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4 


A Soldier of the Empire 


































































































































































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Mr. Howard Hall in the leading character of the dramatized version of 
** A Soldier of the Empire,” 

as played by him throughout the United States and Great Britain. 





A SOLDIER of the 
^=EMPIRE= 

A Romance of the Hundred Hays 


BY 

HOWARD HALL 

n 

Author oj “A Fatal Flower “The Liberty Boys," Etc, 




NEW YORK & WASHINGTON 

The Neale Publishing Company 
mc m i i i 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

AUG 1 '903 

Copyright Entry 

t 2>_ 0 C 

CLASS^ XXc. No. 

i 3 T 

COPY B. 





/ 



COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY 
THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
AND 

HOWARD HALL 


• © 


• c • 


• •• 


« • • » \ fe 

• • • € 

• • • • • t 

• • # « 

• • e * * « 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I Elba ' 7 

II The Return 16 

III The March on Grenoble 25 

IV The Count De Vere 39 

V The Pursuit 48 

VI A Domestic Picture 60 

VII De Montville to the Rescue 71 

VIII Louise Plays the Siren 80 

IX Love and Hate 89 

X Plotting 97 

XI Affairs Appertaining to the Heart 107 

XII Husband and Brother 117 

XIII A Letter from De Montville 127 

XIV A Challenge r 35 

XV Woman Against Woman 142 

XVI A Windfall 149 

XVII The Flight to the Mill 155 

XVIII Death Before Dishonor 163 

XIX Besieged 171 

XX The Attack 179 

XXI Louise to the Rescue 188 

XXII Saved 196 

XXIII Tidings from Waterloo 204 

XXIV Back from the Dead 214 





A Soldier of the Empire 


CHAPTER I 

ELBA 

On Saturday, February 15, 1815, nothing 
was talked of at Porto-Ferrajo but the ball to 
be given in the evening by the Princess Pauline 
Borghese, the Emperor’s sister. She was the 
reigning beauty of Napoleon’s little Elban 
Court, and her sprightly disposition and con- 
summate tact rendered her exceedingly popular 
with all the notabilities of the island. So the 
fete promised to be brilliant. Nor did it belie 
this promise. 

The night fell mild for the season, and long 
before the guests began to arrive the grounds 
surrounding the chateau were illumined by in- 
numerable lanterns, hanging in rows and clus- 
ters from the trees, and giving to the scene the 
magical effect of fairyland. But the illumina- 
tion in the garden was nothing to be compared 


8 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


to that within the residence. Every apartment 
was brilliantly lighted; and as the windows 
were all thrown open to admit the air, the 
house viewed from a distance had the appear- 
ance of an immense lantern glowing amid a 
host of lesser lights. 

The ball opened at an early hour. A military 
band, stationed behind a screen of palms on the 
piazza, broke forth into the stirring strains of a 
brisk minuet and the dancing began. It was a 
notable assemblage. Bertrand was there and 
Dronot, with the officers of less distinction who 
had accompanied Napoleon in his exile — all in 
full-dress uniform and wearing their medals, 
ribbons, and badges of the Legion of Honor, 
to which most of them belonged. 

Bright shone the lights on fair women and 
brave men, not one of whom had as yet the least 
notion of the momentous step Napoleon was 
about to take. As he moved from group to 
group it was observed that he was in high 
spirits. His easy and cheerful conversation be- 
trayed no pre-occupation. Never before, since 
the abdication of the imperial throne, had he 
seemed so resigned to remain the nominal ruler 
of that little island empire. And yet he was 
meditating a coup d’etat that for brilliancy of 
conception and daring in execution has had no 
parallel in history. 

Among the officers in waiting on the Em- 
peror was a young captain of the Imperial Hus- 
sars, Guilbert de Montville, the scion of a noble 


ELBA 


9 


family that had been ruined by the Revolution 
and restored to their possessions by Napoleon. 
Although an aristocrat by birth, he had re- 
ceived so many favors from the Man of Des- 
tiny that he was bound heart and soul to his for- 
tunes. De Montville possessed the very quali- 
ties Napoleon prized most highly in his sol- 
diers. Brave, vigilant, obedient, he would have 
gone to certain death without a question if his 
superior in command had so ordered it. To 
such servants the Emperor was always a friend ; 
but to De Montville he was more — for Napo- 
leon had come to regard him as a protege. 

Although present at the ball, this young man 
stood silently apart, refusing to mingle with the 
dancers. Napoleon, who had an eye for every- 
thing, observed this, and drawing him aside 
asked : 

“Why do you not dance, De Montville ?" 

“Because I have no heart for it, your Majes- 
ty" 

“Nonsense/' exclaimed Napoleon with a 
smile. “You take our exile too seriously, Cap- 
tain." 

“Nay, it is not our exile," replied De Mont- 
ville, “for to me that is a blessing." 

“What is it then?" 

“Your Majesty, I am a disappointed man." 

Napoleon shrugged his shoulders. 

“Ah, I see how it is," he said; “you are 
ambitious. You pinned your fortunes upon 
mine, and now that I am an exile stripped of 


IO 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


everything, you despair of the future. Is it not 
so?” 

“No, your Majesty,” replied De Montville. 
“It is true I grieve for your reverses, but not 
on my own account. On the contrary, it was 
because of my disappointment that I volunteer- 
ed to accompany you into exile and bury myself 
forever in Elba.” 

“Why, you talk like a man in love,” cried the 
Emperor with a mocking laugh. 

“Say, rather, like one who has recovered 
from that madness,” returned De Montville. 

“And who consequently takes a jaundiced 
view of life. Come, my dear Captain, take me 
for your physician and confess your malady 
that I may cure it ; for I must have no love-sick 
soldiers in the campaign I am about to begin.” 

The Emperor led the way from the ball-room 
to a secluded corner of the piazza where they 
could converse unheard, and assuming an atti- 
tude of attention, continued : 

“Now tell me what troubles you, and I will 
prescribe the remedy.” 

“Your Majesty,” began De Montville, “five 
years ago it was my misfortune to fall in love 
with a young girl who was as fair as she was 
false. I worshipped her ; I adored her ; and she 
professed an ardent affection for me in return. 
But during my absence with the army in Russia 
she abandoned me to make what she considered 
a more brilliant marriage with another.” 

“A wealthier man, no doubt.” 


ELBA 


II 


“True; but not a more honorable one. Her 
choice was the Count de Graysant.” 

“A roue and a scoundrel as well,” said Napo- 
leon. “I remember the man distinctly. He 
squandered a fortune in dissipation and died, 
leaving his wife penniless. What has become 
of her, do you know ?” 

“I never cared to inquire,” replied the Cap- 
tain. 

“Well, she was a clever woman and a great 
beauty. And you blame her because she pre- 
ferred ambition to love? You are wrong, Cap- 
tain.” 

“I blame her because she broke her troth to 
me,” said De Montville; “because, knowing 
that I trusted her as I do my God, she ruth- 
lessly destroyed my faith in womankind and 
left my heart a prey to bitterness and despair.” 

“And so it was because of a woman that you 
abandoned the world for this island — that you 
volunteered to share my misfortunes and my 
exile?” 

“Because of a woman and my devotion to 
your Majesty.” 

Napoleon fixed upon the young officer a look 
of profound significance, and lowering his 
voice to a whisper asked eagerly : 

“And do you imagine I am content with 
Elba; that I, who have ruled the world, can be 
satisfied with a small island? No, my dear 
Guilbert. In a little while I will recover all the 
glory and honor and power I have lost, and 


12 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


then those who have shared in my reverses will 
participate in my triumph. Do not despair, 
therefore, but hope; for great things are in 
store for you. So away with love, which is at 
best but a weakness, and think only of glory.” 

Convinced by these glowing words that the 
Emperor was meditating some great project, 
De Montville inquired what he meant. 

“Wait until the ball is over,” replied Napo- 
leon, “and I will tell you all.” 

Then he turned abruptly on his heel and 
walked away. A moment later De Montville 
saw him in the ball-room, laughing and talk- 
ing gayly, as though there was not a care upon 
his mind. 

The young officer remained at the ball until a 
late hour in obedience to the Emperor’s hint; 
then, thinking that Napoleon had forgotten 
him, he was about to depart for his quarters, 
when a lackey approached him and said : 

“Monsieur, the Emperor requests that you 
accompany him home. He is now awaiting 
you in his carriage.” 

De Montville lost no time in obeying this 
summons. He found Napoleon before the main 
entrance to the chateau, seated in his barouche 
with Generals Bertrand and Dronot. His 
countenance was supremely calm ; but upon the 
faces of the generals was an expression of ex- 
pectancy. It was evident that they scented an 
important disclosure. 


ELBA 


13 


During the drive to the imperial residence 
the strictest silence was maintained, Napoleon 
sitting with his head bowed upon his breast 
absorbed in profound meditation. But no 
sooner had the party reached his study and he 
had closed the door, when he turned to his com- 
panions and exclaimed : 

“The time has at last arrived for action !” 

Then he sank into a chair at a table and 
motioned the others to be seated. When they 
had complied with this mute command he be- 
gan to unfold the meaning of his words. 

“My friends,” said he, “you will doubtless 
agree with me that every man has a right to de- 
fend himself against proceedings that are con- 
trary to justice and morality.” 

The officers bowed their heads in assent. 

“You are aware,” he continued, “that the 
subsidy stipulated by the treaty of Fontaine- 
bleau has been withheld from me and that I 
am consequently on the verge of famine. But 
can you guess the reason for this breach of 
faith?” 

“I presume it is to humiliate your Majesty,” 
answered Bertrand. 

Napoleon smiled. 

“There is a profounder policy behind it than 
that,” he said. “My agent in Vienna informs 
me that the money has been withheld in order to 
oblige me to disband my brave grenadiers, the 
companions of my former glory, the consolers 
of my present misfortune.” 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


*4 


At this De Montville broke out impulsively : 

“Then the tyrants will fail in their design; 
for there is not a soldier in your Elban army 
who will not serve you, if need be, without pay. 
I will answer for them.” 

“Thank you, Captain; thank you!” exclaim- 
ed Napoleon gratefully. “But you forget that 
although my soldiers would willingly serve me 
without wages, still their maintenance must be 
taken into consideration. How am I to lodge 
and feed them without money?” 

“Ah, how indeed ?” sighed Dronot. 

The Emperor continued : 

“But this is not the worst. My agent further 
informs me that it is the fixed purpose of the 
allies to separate me from my wife and child 
forever. I am to be treated like a brigand. In- 
deed the intention is openly avowed to trans- 
port me to some distant island of the Atlantic 
like a vile criminal.” 

The officers sprang to their feet, exclaiming 
with one voice : 

“We will never permit such an outrage !” 

“I believe you,” said Napoleon calmly, “and 
it is because of this confidence that I have called 
on you to confer with me now.” Then he look- 
ed them full in the face and asked abruptly, 
“What shall we do?” 

The officers stared at one another in bewil- 
derment. 

“What, no answer ?” said the Emperor with 
a grim smile. “Then I must enlighten you. My 


ELBA 


15 


agents in France inform me that the govern- 
ment of Louis XVIII is unpopular; in short, 
that the entire army and a majority of the peo- 
ple pine for my return.” 

He arose, and walking quickly to a window 
that' faced the east, threw it wide open. 

A flood of sunlight burst into the room. 

“Behold, it is morning !” cried Napoleon 
with an imperious gesture. “A new day has 
dawned. Let it be one that France will remem- 
ber. Her people await me as a liberator. We 
will begin our march on Paris this afternoon.” 


CHAPTER II 


THE RETURN 

Having enjoined the three officers to keep his 
project secret, Napoleon passed the early hours 
of the morning in making arrangements for the 
embarkation of his little army of eleven hun- 
dred men. He breakfasted at nine, and after 
holding his usual levee and reviewing the 
troops on the parade ground, attended mass in 
company with the officials of his household. 

Up to four in the afternoon the soldiers knew 
nothing of his intentions. The roll of the 
drums summoned them to dinner ; but when the 
meal was over, instead of resting as was their 
custom, they were ordered to repair immedi- 
ately to the wharf with their arms and baggage. 
At five o’clock the signal for embarkation was 
given and some four hundred of the guard, 
with their officers, went on board the brig-of- 
war Inconstant, which carried twenty-six guns. 
The remainder of the troops, amounting to 
about seven hundred, found accommodations 


THE RETURN 1 7 

on the schooner Caroline and five other smaller 
vessels. 

The wharf and the shores of the harbor were 
crowded, for the inhabitants of Porto-Ferrajo 
had come forth to a man to bid adieu to the sol- 
diers whom they had learned to love and 
esteem. As the little navy put out to sea, Napo- 
leon appeared upon the deck of the Inconstant 
and waved a farewell to the assembled people. 
He was greeted with a tremendous cheer. 

“ ’Tis well,” said he to De Montville, who 
was standing at his side. “If France welcomes 
me as cordially as Elba speeds my parting, my 
cause will triumph.” 

He remained upon the deck for a long while 
with his arms folded across his chest, his head 
bowed and his eyes fixed upon the shore in a 
profound revery. Then he entered his cabin 
to snatch a few hours of much-needed repose. 

The flotilla started on its voyage with a south 
wind blowing, and it was hoped that, favored 
by the night, it would pass beyond the French 
and English cruisers which operated from that 
side of the island ; but hardly had it doubled the 
Elban Cape of Saint Andre when the wind fell 
and the sea became absolutely calm. At day- 
break it had made only six leagues and was in 
full sight of the much-dreaded cruisers, chain- 
ed, as it were, upon a moveless sea. 

Some of the naval officers advised an aban- 
donment of the expedition ; but the wind rising 
again, Napoleon ordered the voyage to be con- 


18 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

tinued. The breeze freshened, and by noon 
they had passed beyond the danger of pursuit 
from that quarter. But it was only to run into 
another peril. 

Late in the afternoon, while they were off the 
heights of Leghorn, De Montville noticed a 
man-of-war approaching the flotilla with the 
wind astern. It was gaining upon them rapidly. 
As it drew nearer he recognized it as a vessel of 
the French Royal Navy, and approaching Lieu- 
tenant Taillade, the officer of the watch, he 
pointed over the stern and inquired anxiously : 

“Do you know that ship?” 

Taillade surveyed the vessel through his 
glasses and replied : 

“It is the Zephir, commanded by Captain 
Andrieux, a friend of mine.” 

“Well, he is evidently trying to overhaul us 
and is certain to succeed. What is to be done ?” 

“We will consult the Emperor,” answered 
Taillade. Accordingly they proceeded to the 
cabin, where Napoleon was in consultation with 
his generals, and laid the matter before him. 
Taillade was for running up the tricolor, and 
trying to induce the Royal captain to join their 
expedition; but Napoleon would not hear of it. 

“Why risk an imprudence,” said he, “which 
may result disastrously.” 

Then with characteristic promptitude he went 
out upon the deck and ordered his grenadiers 
to take off their foraging caps and conceal 
themselves under the bridge. This order was 


THE RETURN 


x 9 


signaled to the other vessels, and in a short time 
every soldier had disappeared from their decks 
and the flotilla had all the appearance of a fleet 
of mechantmen under convoy of a brig-of-war. 

At six in the evening the Zephir and the In- 
constant were near enough to speak, and Cap- 
tain Andrieux called out through his trumpet : 

“Where are you bound?” 

“To Leghorn,” answered Taillade. “And 
you ?” 

“To Genoa. Have you any commissions I 
can execute there?” 

“Thanks, not any,” shouted back Taillade. 
“How is the Emperor?” 

“In the best of health.” 

“So much the better.” 

With that the conversation ended and the 
two vessels parted, the Inconstant and her con- 
voy veering toward Leghorn, and the Zephir 
taking the opposite direction toward Genoa. 
Night descended and they lost sight of each 
other, the Royal captain never suspecting that . 
Caesar and his fortunes had just passed on their 
way. 

During the night the wind continued to 
freshen and they made fair progress. At dawn 
a ship of seventy-four guns was sighted in the 
distance; but although it excited considerable 
apprehension at first, it soon became evident 
that it would not trouble itself about the Em- 
peror’s flotilla. 


20 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


Thirty-six hours at sea, and as yet the sol- 
diers do not know whither they are bound. 

Suddenly Napoleon appears upon the deck, 
and noticing that the Inconstant’ s head is turn- 
ed away from France, he shouts to the officers 
on the bridge : 

“Gentlemen, are we going to Spain or to 
Africa ?” 

Captain Chautart replied: 

“Sire, we are headed for Africa.” 

“I have no desire to go there,” cries the Em- 
peror; “take me to France!” 

“Your Majesty shall be there before tomor- 
row noon.” 

“ ’Tis well!” exclaims Napoleon. Then, 
turning toward the soldiers of the Old Guard 
— “Yes, grenadiers,” he announces in clarion 
tones, “we are going to France, to Paris!” 

At which the soldiers break forth into enthu- 
siastic cheers. 

From the moment that he revealed their des- 
tination to his troops, Napoleon made of the 
deck of the Inconstant both his promenade and 
his cabinet. He ordered a desk and writing 
materials brought from the cabin, and install- 
ing Captain de Montville as his secretary dic- 
tated two proclamations, one to the people, the 
other to the army of France. 

The first ran as follows : 

“Frenchmen, in my exile I have heard your 
lamentations and your prayers. I have crossed 
the seas in the midst of perils of every kind ; I 


THE RETURN 


21 


arrive among you to resume my rights, which 
are also yours. I will forget forever all that 
individuals may have said, done, or written 
since the taking of Paris, because there are 
events which are too powerful for human 
nature. Frenchmen, there is no nation, however 
insignificant, which has not had the right, and 
has not attempted, to free itself from the dis- 
honor of obeying a prince imposed on it by a 
momentarily victorious enemy. When Charles 
VII reentered Paris and overthrew the ephem- 
eral power of Henry VI, he recognized that he 
owed his throne to the valor of his soldiers and 
not to the Prince Regent of England. And it is 
to you alone, and to the brave men of the army, 
that I glory, and will ever glory, in owing all.” 

The proclamation to the army was still more 
impassioned : 

“Soldiers, we have not been vanquished. 
Two men, risen from our ranks, betrayed our 
laurels, their country, their prince, their bene- 
factor. Shall those whom we have seen for 
twenty years scouring Europe to make enemies 
for us ; those who have passed their lives fight- 
ing against us in foreign armies and cursing 
our beautiful France; shall they command and 
chain our eagles, they who never could endure 
their glance? Shall we suffer them to inherit 
the fruit of our labors, to seize our honors and 
our goods and calumniate our glory? Should 
their reign endure, all would be lost, even the 
souvenir of our most memorable days. 


22 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“Come, range yourselves beneath the banners 
of your chief. His existence is bound up with 
yours; his rights are yours and those of the 
people; his interest, his honor, his glory, are 
nothing but your interest, your honor, your 
glory. Our onset and our victory will march 
side by side ; the eagle with the national colors 
will fly from steeple to steeple, till it reaches 
the towers of Notre Dame. Then you can show 
your scars with honor; then you can boast of 
what you have done ; you will be the liberators 
of the fatherland.” 

As there was no printing press on board, 
these proclamations were given to the subaltern 
officers to transcribe. The long table in the 
main saloon was given over to their use, and 
sitting elbow to elbow around it they worked 
throughout the night, with the result that when 
morning dawned five hundred copies were 
ready for distribution. 

The sun rose gloriously, revealing, far away 
to the north, the coast of France; but owing to 
the lightness of the breeze it was not until three 
in the afternoon that the flotilla came to anchor 
in the Bay of Juan. Then the guns of the In- 
constant discharged salvos of rejoicing and 
every soldier donned his tri-colored cockade. 
Immediately the boats were launched, and by 
five o’clock the entire army had effected a land- 
ing. 

It would be impossible to describe De Mont- 
ville’s sensations as he stepped once more upon 


THE RETURN 


23 


the soil of his beloved country. He had left 
France a heart-broken man, a voluntary exile, 
with all his illusions destroyed and no hope for 
the future. That his soul could ever again re- 
spond to an ardent emotion had seemed to him 
impossible. Nevertheless, he returned glowing 
with enthusiasm; for Napoleon, with the magic 
of his genius, had inspired him with new 
dreams of ambition, honor, and glory. 

He had not been long on shore when the Em- 
peror sent for him. Proceeding to the olive 
plantation, where the imperial tent had been 
pitched, he found his master seated at a table 
with his maps spread out before him. 

“Captain,” began Napoleon, “you are 
familiar with the roads in the southern provin- 
ces, I am informed.” 

“Yes, your Majesty. I passed my youth in 
Lower Provence and Dauphiny.” 

“Well, we start to-night for Paris. I see by 
these maps that we have two roads to choose 
between — that of Lower Provence, which is 
easy, but where I cannot rely upon the favora- 
ble attitude of the people; and that of Dau- 
phiny, which bristles with rocks and mountains 
covered with ice and snow, but where I will en- 
counter sympathetic sentiments. Now I am re- 
solved that the imperial eagles shall perch upon 
the towers of Notre Dame within twenty days. 
Can this be accomplished by taking the safer 
but more rugged road?” 

“If we journey by forced marches, yes.” 


24 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Very well, then,” said Napoleon, “we will 
take the road through Dauphiny. I appoint 
you, Captain, to act as my guide. Have your 
Company of Hussars in readiness to march 
with the vanguard an hour before midnight.” 

Having delivered this command, the Em- 
peror motioned him to retire. 

On returning to his company, De Montville 
ordered his men to prepare themselves for the 
road, and afterwards rest until the word came 
to march. Then he entered his tent and lay 
down for a few hours of repose. But he could 
not sleep. The responsibility of guarding his 
sovereign in safety through the perilous moun- 
tains weighed upon his mind, filling it with a 
thousand doubts and misgivings. 

It is true he was familiar with the road ; but 
what if it should be found impracticable ? The 
season of high winds and snow storms was not 
over; what if they should be blockaded on the 
narrow passes ? Again, could the soldiers, 
softened by their long repose at Elba, stand the 
strain of protracted marches over such a rug- 
ged and difficult way? What if they should 
fail to reach Paris within the twenty days allot- 
ted by the Emperor? 

While he was tossing on his couch, his mind 
racked by these and a hundred other fears, the 
trumpets sounded the signal to march. 


CHAPTER III 


THE MARCH ON GRENOBLE 

General Cambronne had been sent ahead to 
Cannes to buy mules and horses. .Thither the 
little army journeyed. They arrived in Cannes 
at midnight, and having distributed the animals 
among the different companies and battalions, 
continued on their way. 

They marched all night, and at daybreak 
halted to rest on a broad plateau which over- 
looks the town of Grasse. During the two 
hours they remained there the inhabitants 
brought them provisions, which the Emperor 
accepted and paid for; after which they set off 
again in the direction of Lernon. De Montville 
and his company marched in the vanguard 
under the immediate command of General Cam- 
bronne. In the center rode the Emperor, with 
the battalion of the Old Guard, escorting the 
treasure, the ammunition and the stores. The 
Corsican battalion formed, the rear guard. 


2 6 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


As they ascended higher and higher into the 
mountains the way became more difficult and 
the cold severer. To many of the veterans the 
route recalled the famous passage of the Alps at 
the time of the Marengo Campaign. They 
were obliged to march in single file, along nar- 
row and perilous paths, skirting precipices that 
made the brain reel. Frequently Napoleon was 
obliged to dismount in order to keep warm; 
more than once he stumbled in the snow. Once 
he rested for a moment in a mountaineer’s hut, 
where sat an old woman, and drawing near her 
brushwood fire he inquired : 

“Have you any news from Paris? Do you 
know what the King is doing?” 

“The King?” answered the old woman in 
surprise. “You mean the Emperor. He is al- 
ways down yonder.” 

It was apparent that she had not heard a 
word of all that had happened in the last year. 
Napoleon turned to General Dronot, who had 
entered the hut with him, and remarked with a 
pensive smile: 

“Well, Dronot, what is the good of troub- 
ling the world in order to fill it with our 
name ?” 

In the evening they reached Lernon, worn 
out with fatigue, having marched twenty 
leagues that day, but still upheld by their en- 
thusiasm. 

At sunrise the journey was resumed. The 
road continued to ascend and the cold was in- 


THE MARCH ON GRENOBLE 27 

tense. De Montville, with ten of his Hussars, 
all mounted on mules, rode about a mile in ad- 
vance of the vanguard, picking a path through 
the snow and setting up signals of warning 
over spots that were slippery and dangerous. 
Thus having the way marked out for them, the 
soldiers were enabled to advance rapidly, and 
covered almost as many miles as on the pre- 
vious day. That night they slept at Braeme, 
ten leagues from the banks of the Durance. 

They made an early start next day and at 
one in the afternoon entered Dijon, where they 
halted to rest. At half past three they were 
on the road again, the Emperor leaving Gen- 
eral Dronot, with four grenadiers, to look 
after the printing of his proclamations, which 
had hitherto been circulated in manuscript. At 
nine in the evening his little army reached Mal- 
ijai and bivouacked for the night. 

So far their progress had not been opposed ; 
but at Sisteron, whither they journeyed next 
day, there was a formidable obstacle to be ap- 
prehended. What if the bridge which crossed 
the Durance at this point should be fortified 
or demolished? The mere thought of such a 
possibility filled De Montville’s heart with dis- 
may, and riding far ahead of his men he ap- 
proached the bridge alone. 

To his great joy it was undefended. 

An hour later Napoleon entered Sisteron in 
triumph, the inhabitants giving him an enthu- 
siastic welcome. He breakfasted at the inn, 


28 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


and while resting afterwards received the sub- 
prefect and the mayor, who came to pay him 
their compliments. Then, as his Arabian was 
too tired to proceed further, he procured an- 
other horse, pursued his route, and slept that 
night at Gap. 

At daybreak, when he resumed his march, 
the entire population of the town turned out to 
cheer him on his way. At Saint Bonnet, where 
he arrived some hours later, the inhabitants, 
seeing how small was his army, feared for his 
safety and implored him to sound the tocsin 
and summon all able-bodied men in the sur- 
rounding villages for an escort; but he refused 
to do so, saying: 

“No; your sentiments prove to me that I 
have not deceived myself. They guarantee the 
sentiments of my soldiery. Those whom I 
meet on my way to Paris will range themselves 
on my side. The more of them there are the 
more certainly will my success be assured. Stay 
quietly at home.” 

The Emperor slept that night at the town of 
Corps, while his advance guard pushed on 
until morning toward the village of La Mure. 

The time was now at hand when Napoleon 
was to find himself, for the first time, face to 
face with the soldiers of Louis XVIII, many 
of them veterans who had participated in his 
former triumphs. Will they remain loyal to 
the white flag, or desert to the tri-color ? Will 
the memory of past glories outweigh the senti- 


THE MARCH ON GRENOBLE 29 

ment of present discipline in their hearts? If 
an officer orders a volley, will they fire upon 
their old general? 

Upon the answer to these questions the 
whole issue of the desperate game depends. 

What will be the answer? 

It was known that at Grenoble, which the 
imperial army was fast approaching, were con- 
centrated all the Royal troops in the Province 
of Dauphiny — the 5th, the 7th and nth of the 
Line, the 3rd Engineers, the 4th Artillery, and 
the 4th Hussars, a force sufficient to complete- 
ly annihilate Napoleon’s devoted band. To- 
ward midnight a battalion of the 5th of the 
Line encountered a company of the Emperor’s 
advance guard at La Mure; but instead of fir- 
ing upon them as was expected, Lessard, the 
Royalist commandant, fell back upon the vil- 
lage of Laffray, six leagues from Grenoble. 

At dawn General Cambronne sent De 
Montville toward this village to reconnoitre. 
He started out in the company of two of his 
most trusted Hussars; but on approaching the 
picket line of the Royalists he ordered them to 
await his return, and dismounting from his 
horse proceeded forward on foot alone. 

The morning was damp and raw. A heavy 
fog hung over the country like a pall, obliterat- 
ing the distant landscape and rendering even 
the nearest objects indistinct. A profound 
quiet reigned. Occasionally a cock crowed in 
the distance, or a dog barked — nothing more. 


30 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

As he drew nearer to the village he listened 
eagerly for the hum of life, but the silence re- 
mained unbroken. Could it . be possible that 
the Royalists had retired from the village? 

Suddenly a gruff voice cried out : 

“Halt!” - - . -f* ■ 

Looking ahead, De Montville descried 
through the mist the dim outlines of a Royalist 
grenadier covering him with his musket. 

“Who goes there?” growled the grenadier. 
“Give the countersign or I fire!” 

There are moments when the mind acts with 
lightning-like rapidity. Almost instantly De 
Montville determined what to do. He realized 
that capture would mean the failure of his 
mission. It was necessary that Napoleon 
should know the exact number of the troops 
opposed to him and the strength of their posi- 
tion, otherwise he might march forward to his 
certain destruction. But in order to return 
with this information there was now but one 
course to pursue, and De Montville adopted it. 

Drawing his sabre, he whipped a white 
handkerchief from his pocket, fixed it upon the 
point of the weapon, held it aloft and advanced 
toward the sentinel fearlessly, crying : 

“A flag of truce from the Emperor ; conduct 
me to your chief.” 

Scarcely had he uttered these words when 
the sentinel had him by the hand, looking cau- 
tiously around to make sure they were alone. 


THE MARCH ON GRENOBLE 3 1 

“What, you come from the Emperor, com- 
rade?” he whispered eagerly. “Tell me, is he 
in good health? Has he brought many with 
him?” 

“He is in the best of health,” replied De 
Montville, and has with him his entire Elban 
army. He has sent me hither out of love for 
his old soldiers. He wishes to avoid blood- 
shed.” 

“Bloodshed!” gasped the sentinel in sur- 
prise. “And does he think that we would fire 
upon our beloved Emperor and the brave com- 
rades who are with him? Nay, tell Napoleon 
that he does not know his soldiers.” 

“You speak but for yourself,” returned De 
Montville. “It may be true that you would 
not fire upon your Emperor; but the others 
would when commanded to do so by their offi- 
cers. You forget that a soldier is a mere creat- 
ure of discipline sworn to obey the commands 
of his superiors even unto death.” 

At this the other protested vehemently. 

“I speak for the entire army !” 

Highly gratified at this expression of senti- 
ment, De Montville requested the sentinel to 
conduct him to his commander without delay; 
for having gleaned this hint of the favorable 
attitude of the soldiery, he was now anxious 
to probe the hearts of their officers. Accord- 
ingly the sentinel handed him over to a ser- 
geant, who escorted him to the commandant’s 
quarters. 


32 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

Lessard was sitting at a table in the parlor 
of a wine shop, writing a report to his super- 
ior at Grenoble. As De Montville entered, he 
raised his eyes from his work, and fixing upon 
him a look of extreme hauteur, remarked with 
a sneer : 

“So you come to me with a flag of truce, 
monsieur. What has the Brigand of Elba to 
propose to me?” 

“If you refer to your Emperor, monsieur,” 
replied De Montville with dignity, “I would 
advise you to be more choice in your terms. My 
errand is this — Napoleon wishes to avoid 
bloodshed, and so requests that he may be per- 
mitted to pass on his way unopposed. 

Lessard struck the table violently with his 
fist. 

“What, he dares to propose such a thing to 
me!” he cried wrathfully. “To me, who has 
sworn to serve the King with my life? Go back 
and tell Napoleon this : I have with me a bat- 
talion of the 5th of the Line and a number of 
engineers and artillerymen as well. I occupy 
a position, between lakes and mountains, very 
easy to defend, and if that brigand attempts to 
pass it I will blow both him and his dupes to 
the Devil !” 

And with that he resumed his writing. 

It was with a heavy heart that De Montville 
left him to return to his waiting Hussars. 
Meanwhile the fog had lifted, and as he passed 
out of the Royalist camp he observed with dis- 


THE MARCH ON GRENOBLE 33 

may that what Lessard had told him was true. 
The Royalists were intrenched between lakes 
and mountains in earthworks bristling with 
cannon. Their position was indeed impregna- 
ble. 

On reporting the result of his reconnaissance 
to Cambronne, that general sent him to Napo- 
leon, who had by this time come up with the 
vanguard, and was preparing for his onward 
march with that imperturbable calm which 
never deserted him in the most formidable 
perils of his stormy career. The Emperor list- 
ened to his story attentively, and when he had 
finished said : 

“Captain de Montville, you have rendered 
me a service the importance of which you little 
know. Hitherto I have not been quite sure of 
the sentiments of the Royalist troops ; but now 
I know them. If the hearts of the soldiers are 
with me, what care I for the King’s officers 
and cannon? Go back to your men and make 
ready for the road. We will march on Greno- 
ble at once.” 

It was in vain that De Montville endeavored 
to dissuade him from this rash resolve. He re- 
mained obdurate. 

Napoleon now divided his little army into 
three divisions. Colonel Mallet led the ad- 
vance guard with three companies. The Polish 
lancers followed on the right of the road, the 
officers who were without troops on the left. 
Napoleon rode in the midst of the advance 


34 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

guard, wearing his famous gray overcoat and 
the broad ribbon of the Legion of Honor. Be- 
side him rode his generals, Bertrand, Dronot 
and Cambronne. 

At one in the afternoon they approached the 
outposts of the King’s army, and some Polish 
lancers who had been sent ahead endeavored 
to open a parley with the grenadiers of the 5th 
of the Line. Commandant Lessard assured 
them that if they renewed the attempt he would 
fire upon them. 

Meanwhile Napoleon drew near. 

When he was within full sight of the Royal- 
ists he dismounted from his horse, and ap- 
proaching Colonel Mallet commanded coolly: 

“Tell the soldiers to put their muskets under 
their left arms, point down.” 

Mallet regarded him with a look of astonish- 
ment and dismay. 

“Sire,” he protested, “is it not foolhardy to 
act thus in the presence of troops whose senti- 
ments we do not know, and whose fire may be 
so fatal?” 

Napoleon repeated sternly: 

“Mallet, tell them to put the weapons under 
their arms !” 

This time Mallet obeyed and the order was 
executed. 

“Now,” said the Emperor, “you may give 
the command to march forward.” 


THE MARCH ON GRENOBLE 35 

*At the sides of the road mute and attentive 
peasants watch the scene about to take place. 
The two battalions are not more than a pistol 
shot apart. The silence is absolute. Profound 
emotion almost stops the breath. 

Napoleon goes forward all alone, his legen- 
dary profile defined against the sky. 

“Present arms!” commands the chief of the 
Royal battalion. 

The guns are leveled at the man of Auster- 
litz, who, impassible, continues slowly to ad- 
vance. Arrived in front of the battalion, he 
raises his hand to his cap and salutes; then, in 
a strong voice : 

“Soldiers of the 5th,” he cries, “do you rec- 
ognize me ?” 

“Yes, yes,” replies some one. 

Then he adds: 

“Soldiers, behold your general; behold your 
Emperor; let any one who wishes to kill him, 
fire!” 

At these words the soldiers, instead of firing, 
throw themselves down on their knees. They 
kiss Napoleon’s hands; they call him father; 
they utter frenzied acclamations. Their shakos 
wave from the tips of their sabres and bayonets. 

“Everything is over,” said Napoleon to Ber- 
trand and Dronot. “In ten days we shall be at 
the Tuileries.” 

The soldiers trampled under foot their white 
cockades and put in their place the tri-colored 


*The description of Napoleon’s encounter with Labedoyere’s forces 
is based upon the narrative of Saint Arman d. 


36 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

ones which they had kept at the bottom of their 
knapsacks. Before taking up the march again, 
the Emperor had them drawn up in battle 
array, and addressed this allocution to them : 

“Soldiers, I come with a handful of brave 
men because I count on the people and on you. 
The throne of the Bourbons is illegitimate, be- 
cause it was not erected by the nation ; it is con- 
trary to the national will, since it is contrary to 
the interests of our country and only exists for 
the profit of certain families. Ask your 
fathers; question all these people who come 
here from the neighborhood ; you will learn the 
real state of affairs from their lips. They are 
threatened with a return of the tithes, the priv- 
ileges and rights of feudal times, and all the 
other abuses from which your successes had 
delivered them.” 

At this moment a peasant cried out : 

“Yes, sire; they wish to attach us to the soil. 
You come, like the angel of the Lord, to deliver 
us.” 

The troops, having fraternized, marched on 
toward Grenoble, the Emperor at their head. 
The throngs of peasantry constantly grew 
larger and joined their shouts tb those of the 
soldiery. They reached Vezille, where the en- 
thusiasm of the inhabitants was excessive. 

“It is we,” said they, “who first dared to re- 
claim the rights of man. This is the cradle of 
the Revolution; and it is here that French lib- 


THE MARCH ON GRENOBLE 37 

erty revives again and France recovers her in- 
dependence and her honor.” 

Between Vezille and Grenoble they saw a 
regiment of infantry coming toward them. It 
was the 7th of the Line, commanded by Colo- 
nel de Labedoyere. He had left Grenoble to 
meet Napoleon. He had had the eagle of the 
regiment taken out of a chest, and brandish- 
ing his sword and crying “Long live the Em- 
peror !” said, “Soldiers, those who love me, fol- 
low me!” 

The soldiers followed him. Napoleon and 
the Colonel got off their horses at the same 
moment and threw themselves into each other’s 
arms. 

“Colonel,” said the Emperor, “it is you who 
replace me on the throne.” 

The reunited troops, amounting to nearly 
three thousand men, marched to Grenoble-, es- 
corted by several thousand peasants. On arriv- 
ing there Napoleon encountered the first seri- 
ous opposition to his triumphal march on Paris. 
For, behold, the Royalist authorities had closed 
the gates of the city. 

For once the man of iron, the man of des- 
tiny, was shaken; for he realized the disaster 
that one resolute will might bring upon his 
cause. Livid with rage he turned to Labedo- 
yere, crying: 

“Who has presumed to raise this obstacle in 
my path ?” 


33 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“Sire,” returned the Colonel, “there is but 
one man in Grenoble who would have dared to 
close the city gates against you.” 

“And that man is — ” 

“The King’s Attorney, Count Eugene de 
Vere.” 


CHAPTER IV 


THE COUNT DE VERE 

The gentleman referred to by Labedoyere 
was of a very ancient family with large pos- 
sessions on the River Serre. Descended from 
ancestors who had for generations been inti- 
mately associated • with royalty, it was but 
natural that he should be an ardent supporter 
of the Bourbon dynasty. 

Previous to Napoleon’s abdication Count 
Eugene de Vere was living in retirement in his 
chateau in the country, his family consisting of 
an only sister, Louise, Madame Mathilde Gir- 
ard, his aunt, and her pretty daughter, Vivette. 
He passed his time in hunting, fishing, and 
managing his vast estates, and seemed to have 
no aspirations for a public career. But on the 
accession of Louis XVIII to the throne of 
France he came forth from his seclusion to ac- 
cept the position of King’s attorney at Greno- 
ble. Young, energetic, fearless, he was devot- 


40 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

ed to the interests of his sovereign, displaying 
a zeal in the exercise of his duties that augured 
well for his political advancement. 

On learning of Napoleon’s approach, Count 
Eugene went directly to the mayor of Greno- 
ble to concert means for the defense of the city. 
He found that official in his office in the Hotel 
de Ville and made known the object of his visit 
in the following words : 

“M. le Maire, I come in the name of the 
King to ask what measures you have adopted 
to prevent that outlaw Bonaparte from passing 
through our city ?” 

To this the Mayor answered evasively : 

“Since the army and the people have declar- 
ed for Napoleon, what can I do to oppose 
him ?” 

“You can order the city gates closed,” re- 
plied the Count resolutely, “and call upon the 
municipal gendarmes to defend them.” 

The Mayor shook his head solemnly. 

“That might precipitate a riot and cause 
bloodshed,” he said. “ ’Twere wiser to let 
events take their course.” 

At this pusillanimous answer Count Eugene 
lost his temper. 

“What,” he cried angrily, “you propose to 
hand Grenoble over to your King’s enemy for 
fear of a little bloodshed? Why, you talk 
treason.” 

“I talk sense, my dear Count,” was the 
cool response. “I am too shrewd a politician 


THE COUNT DE VERE 


4 1 


not to go with the tide. At present its course 
is setting in favor of our old Emperor, and I 
mean to swim with it.” 

“M. le Maire,” exclaimed the Count in a 
towering passion, “you are a coward and a 
traitor!” Then, rising to the responsibility of 
the occasion, he left the Hotel de Ville with the 
firm determination of taking matters into his 
own hands. 

There was at that time in Grenoble a club 
of uncompromising Royalists, composed mostly 
of young men of noble descent and ample for- 
tune. Thither the Count proceeded. On reach- 
ing the club house he found a majority of the 
members assembled in the parlor, talking and 
gesticulating excitedly. The dreaded name of 
Napoleon was in every one’s mouth. 

But as Count Eugene entered the apartment, 
the hum of conversation ceased and all eyes 
were fixed inquiringly upon him. 

What mission had brought the King’s Attor- 
ney among them ? 

This was the question that arose in every 
mind ; nor was the answer long delayed. 

Advancing haughtily into the room, Count 
Eugene cast a commanding look around and 
said, in tones that trembled with suppressed 
passion : 

“Messieurs, if there be one among you so 
base as to desert the cause of his sovereign at 
this time of peril, let him withdraw from our 
company !” 


42 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

Not a man moved. 

The Count continued : 

“I perceive you are all brave men and true. 
It is well; for I have come here to ask your 
assistance in a desperate undertaking. You are 
aware that the outlaw Bonaparte is approach- 
ing Grenoble. He is on his way to dethrone 
our beloved King. The soldiers and the rab- 
ble are with him, and our cause seems desper- 
ate; nevertheless, it is our duty to place every 
possible obstacle in the brigand’s path. I have 
appealed to the Mayor to close the city gates; 
but he has refused. Therefore it remains for 
us to close and defend them with our lives. 
What say you, Messieurs ?” 

Instantly there was a tumult of deafening 
shouts — 

“To the gates; to the gates!” 

And every man made a rush for the street. 

“Hold!” cried the Count, hastening to the 
door and taking his stand upon the threshold. 
“If we go about this business like a mob of 
drunken students nothing can be accomplished. 
Everything depends upon discipline. Are you 
willing to accept me for a leader ?” 

They responded with a chorus of ayes. 

Count Eugene now proceeded to select lieu- 
tenants and to divide his followers into compa- 
nies. This done, he placed himself at their 
head and led them forth into the street. As it 
was necessary to procure arms, he conducted 
them first to the armory of the City Guard and 


THE COUNT DE VERE 


43 


equipped every man with a musket ; then, mar- 
shaling them in military order, he marched 
them to the city gates. 

The ramparts were covered by the 3rd reg- 
iment of Engineers, consisting of two thous- 
and sappers whose bodies were furrowed with 
glorious wounds ; by the 4th Artillery, of which 
the Emperor had been made captain twenty- 
five years before ; by two battalions of the 5th 
of the Line; by the nth of the Line, and the 
Hussars of the 4th — all veterans who had par- 
ticipated in Napoleon’s former triumphs. 

As these soldiers beheld the Count’s civilians 
approach with the white flag of Royalty flutter- 
ing above them, they regarded them with sul- 
len eyes. But not a man presumed to oppose 
them ; for was not the King’s Attorney at their 
head? 

On arriving at the city gates, Count Eugene, 
speaking as the representative of his sovereign, 
commanded the officer in charge to close them. 
The officer obeyed. Then the Count stationed 
his little band in the gate towers and ascended 
into a turret that overlooked the road by which 
Napoleon was expected, to await events. 

For hour after hour he remained alone in a 
narrow chamber of the turret, a prey to the 
most anxious thoughts. He was aware that 
the soldiers were in sympathy with Napoleon; 
but would they permit their feelings to over- 
master their loyalty? If they remained true to 
the King all would be well, as the city was 


44 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

strongly fortified and the garrison numbered 
five thousand men. But if they went over to 
the Emperor, what could he do with his mere 
handful of civilians to prevent Napoleon from 
entering the city? 

Night descended, dark and cloudy; still the 
Count maintained his vigil. 

Toward nine o’clock he heard the tramp of an 
approaching host. He peered eagerly into the 
gloom below, but could distinguish nothing. 

The measured footfalls sounded nearer and 
nearer and were accompanied by the rattling of 
arms. Bending from his watch tower, the 
Count could at last distinguish the low hum of 
voices. Then came a command to halt; then a 
voice shouting out of the profound darkness to 
the men upon the walls : 

“Soldiers, it is I, Labedoyere, Colonel of the 
7th. We bring you Napoleon. He is yonder. 
It is for you to rescue him and to repeat with 
us the rallying cry of the former conquerors of 
Europe, ‘Long live the Emperor !’ ” 

There was a momentary silence, during 
which Count Eugene sat trembling between 
hope and despair. Then the troops upon the 
ramparts responded with a tremendous shout: 

“Long live the Emperor !” 

And he knew that all was over. 

Furious at finding the gates of the city clos- 
ed, the soldiers descended from the walls and 
tried to force them with axes, while on the out- 
side bands of peasants were busy in breaking 


THE COUNT DE VERE 


45 


them down. Under this double strain they 
finally gave way. As they fell with a crash, 
two human streams flowed against each other. 

Three thousand soldiers and several thous- 
and peasants, with Napoleon in their midst, 
crowded upon the draw-bridge at the risk of 
stifling their idol in order to enter with him 
into the city. The soldiers of the garrison and 
the greater part of the inhabitants of Grenoble 
precipitated themselves toward the same point 
to meet the Emperor. Flambeaux and torches 
illuminated the scene, noisy with confusion 
and enthusiasm. It was with the greatest dif- 
ficulty that Napoleon forced a passage through 
the delirious crowd to the inn of the “Three 
Dauphins,” where he established his headquar- 
ters. 

Meanwhile the Count de Vere, while the 
gates were being forced — realizing that Napo- 
leon would never forgive him for checking his 
triumphal progress — mounted a fleet horse and 
escaped from Grenoble. He took the highway 
to Paris and rode furiously all night, intending 
first to warn the King of his danger, and then 
press on to his chateau on the River Serre. 
Leaving him in the pursuit of these intentions, 
I will now return to the adventures of the real 
hero of this romance, Captain Guilbert de 
Montville. 

Scarcely had Napoleon established himself 
in the “Three Dauphins” when he sent word to 
the young Captain that he wished to speak with 


4 6 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

him. Accordingly De Montville hastened to 
the inn and found the Emperor standing in the 
parlor with his back to a fire of logs that blazed 
on the hearth, receiving visits of respect from 
the chief dignitaries of Grenoble, and in the 
intervals dictating dispatches. 

It was evident that, notwithstanding his tri- 
umphal entry, he was not altogether pleased; 
for his brows were slightly contracted and his 
lips shut tightly together. Nor did he keep De 
Montville long in doubt as to the cause of his 
displeasure. 

“Captain,” said he, “I have been informed 
by the Mayor of Grenoble and by Colonel La- 
bedoyere that the gates of the city were closed 
against me by order of the King’s Attorney, 
Count Eugene de Vere. In endeavoring to 
prevent my entry, against the will of the army 
and people, this fellow has proved himself a 
dangerous enemy to France. I have therefore 
determined to imprison him and appoint you to 
make the arrest.” 

“Your Majesty,” said De Montville, salut- 
ing, “the Count de Vere will be in custody be- 
fore morning.” 

“Nay, I do not demand the impossible,” re- 
turned the Emperor. “I have learned that the 
Count has escaped from Grenoble and taken 
the road to Paris. As he is mounted on a horse 
of speed and mettle, to overtake him will neces- 
sitate a long and desperate chase. It was be- 
cause I realized the difficulties of the undertak- 


THE COUNT DE VERE 


47 


ing that I sent for you. Mount the strongest 
and fleetest horse you can procure and start in 
pursuit of this bold fellow at once. Can I rely 
upon you to effect his arrest ?” 

“Your Majesty,” said De Montville fer- 
vently, “since the Count de Vere is an enemy 
of yours, he is an enemy of mine as well. I 
promise to capture him or lay down my life.” 

“Then start immediately, for time is pre- 
cious.” Saying which, the Emperor dismissed 
him with an imperious gesture and began dic- 
tating a dispatch to a subaltern. 

An hour later De Montville and two Hus- 
sars of his company — all three splendidly 
mounted — left the northern gate of Grenoble 
and galloped along the road to Paris. 


CHAPTER V 


THE PURSUIT 

They remained in the saddle all night and 
rode so rapidly that they entered the gates of 
Lyons before sunrise. Resting to eat and pro- 
cure fresh horses, they pressed on, and riding 
hard all day reached Macon in the evening. 
Here their horses being spent and not being 
able to procure others, they were obliged to put 
up for the night at an inn. 

While they were resting in the parlor before 
retiring to sleep, De Montville inquired of the 
landlord if the King’s Attorney at Grenoble 
had recently sought entertainment at his hos- 
telry. 

“Do you refer to the Count de Vere?” in- 
quired mine host. 

“The same.” 

“Well, he left here an hour before you arriv- 
ed.” 

“For Paris?” 


THE PURSUIT 


49 


“Aye, to warn the King that Napoleon is 
marching on the capital with a vast army. But 
why these inquiries, monsieur ?” 

“That affair is ours,” replied De Montville, 
curtly. 

At dawn they were in the saddle again, and 
at noon passed through Autun, stopping just 
long enough to exchange horses. At nightfall 
they reached Avallon, where they drew rein 
for a time to refresh themselves and rest their 
jaded steeds. Then on again, through the long 
hours of the night, walking, cantering, trot- 
ting, galloping, as the character of the road 
permitted, but never once coming to a halt. 

As long as it was night they remained silent. 
For in spite of themselves, they felt the influ- 
ence of the darkness and saw an ambush in 
every thicket. But with the first glimmer of 
daylight their spirits revived and their tongues 
became loosened. 

“Comrades,” said De Montville gayly, 
“within an hour we will enter Auxerre. I feel 
confident that there we will overtake our man.” 

“Perhaps,” returned one of the Hussars 
doubtfully; adding, “this Count de Vere must 
be a desperate rider to have kept ahead of us 
so long.” 

“He is urged on by his fears for the King,” 
said De Montville. “Nevertheless, there is a 
limit to human endurance and I believe we 
have at length run him down.” 


50 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

They reached Auxerre at about six in the 
morning and, needing breakfast, alighted at the 
door of an inn recommended by a sign repre- 
senting a giant and a dwarf, hand in hand. 

“If the Count has passed this way,” said De 
Montville, “he has doubtless stopped at this 
hostelry to rest awhile. Indeed it is likely that 
he is resting here now.” 

With these words he led the way into the 
public room and, motioning his companions to 
follow his example, took a seat at a table. 
When the landlord approached to serve them, 
De Montville engaged him in the following- 
conversation : 

“When did you open for business this 
morning ?” 

“At five o’clock,” replied the landlord. 

“An early hour; but it is to accommodate 
the workmen of the town, no doubt?” 

“The workmen and an occasional early trav- 
eler as well.” 

“Do many such pass this way ?” 

“Not many; but we must be prepared for 
those who do, monsieur.” 

“Are we the earliest travelers you have ac- 
commodated this morning?” 

“No, monsieur. I served breakfast to a very 
distinguished looking traveler half an hour ago. 
He had been riding all night and was almost 
famished.” 

At this De Montville turned triumphantly to 
his companions. 


THE PURSUIT 


51 


“It is the Count de Vere!” he cried. Then 
turning again to the landlord, “Is this gentle- 
man still in your house?” he asked eagerly. 

“Monsieur,” replied the landlord, “although 
completely exhausted with a night of hard rid- 
ing, he insisted upon continuing his journey. 
He remained here only long enough to eat a 
hasty breakfast, and then exchanging his 
fagged horse for a fresh one, mounted and gal- 
loped off.” 

“When?” 

“About ten minutes before you arrived.” 

The young captain sprang to his feet. 

“Comrades,” he cried to his Hussars, “sad- 
dle the horses and make ready for the road !” 

But at this the Hussars protested, saying 
that the animals were all used up. 

He turned to the landlord and asked : 

“Have you any fresh horses in your stable ?” 

“I have one,” was the wavering reply. 

“Well, here are fifty francs for the use of it,” 
and De Montville laid the money upon the 
table. 

“Monsieur,” said mine host apologetically,” 
“I am sorry, but my horse is bespoke.” 

“By whom?” 

“By me,” answered a voice from the door- 
way; and a military gentleman bustled into 
the inn parlor, booted and spurred for a jour- 
ney. 

De Montville saluted him politely and in- 
quired : 


52 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Monsieur, may I ask your name?” 

“Durant,” replied the gentleman stiffly — 
“Major Durant, of the Royal Chasseurs.” 

And without further ceremony he turned 
toward the inn yard, where the horse was al- 
ready awaiting him. 

De Montville laid a hand upon his arm. 

“Monsieur,” he said with studied courtesy, 
“you appear to be in the devil of a hurry.” 

“I am,” was the curt reply. 

“I am sorry for that,” said De Montville, for 
as I am in a hurry likewise, I was going to ask 
you to do me a great service.” 

“What service?” 

“Let me take the horse and go first.” 

“Impossible !” cried the gentleman. “I have 
traveled sixty leagues in forty-four hours, and 
by tomorrow at mid-day I must be in Vere.” 

“I have traveled the same distance in forty 
hours, and by tomorrow noon must be in 
Paris.” 

“Very sorry, sir; but I was here first and 
will not go second.” 

“I am sorry, too, monsieur; but I arrived 
second and mean to go first.” 

“The King’s service !” exclaimed Durant. 

“The Emperor’s service!” replied De Mont- 
ville. 

“Let me pass !” 

“You shall not pass!” 

And De Montville planted himself resolutely 
in the doorway. 


THE PURSUIT 


53 


Seeing this, Durant drew his sword and 
sprang upon the young Captain furiously; but 
he soon discovered that he had to do with a 
consummate master in the art of fence. In 
three seconds De Montville had wounded him 
three times, exclaiming with each thrust: 

“One for your arrogance ; one for your inso- 
lence ; and one for your anger !” 

At the third thrust the gentleman fell to the 
floor, closed his eyes and fainted. De Mont- 
ville cast a regretful glance upon his prostrate 
figure ; then, turning to his Hussars : 

“Comrades,” said he, “as there is but one 
horse available, I am obliged to continue the 
pursuit of the Count de Vere alone. When 
your own steeds are rested endeavor to over- 
take me; but if you should not succeed in this, 
ride on to Paris, where you will find me in my 
accustomed haunts. I trust, however, that you 
will overtake me on the road with my pris- 
oner.” 

With these words he stalked out through the 
door, sprang upon the waiting horse and gal- 
loped' off in a cloud of dust. 

Although he rode desperately all day, with 
but a few short intervals of rest, he failed to 
overtake the man he was pursuing. The Count 
de Vere was evidently mounted on a fleeter and 
stronger animal than the one he rode, and 
seemed to possess superhuman powers of en- 
durance. 


54 A SOLlflER of the empire 

At nightfall his horse was completely spent 
and he was obliged to give over the chase until 
he could procure another. This proved to be 
no easy matter, as the Count, riding ahead of 
him, had secured the only horse kept for hire at 
the inn at which he was obliged to stop. 

In this dilemma he sent a hostler to a distant 
village to engage the best animal he could find, 
and during the man’s absence ate a hearty sup- 
per and enjoyed a few hours of sleep. 

At midnight the hostler returned and De 
Montville continued his pursuit, riding hard 
until morning. He was now within a few 
hours of Paris, and realizing that the arrest 
of the Count was, for the present, hopeless, de- 
termined to relax his speed. At noon he enter- 
ed the Capital in the disguise of a Royalist 
trooper and proceeded to a retired hotel in the 
Faubourg St. Antoine, where he knew his 
Hussars would be sure to find him. Here, ut- 
terly prostrated in mind and body, he slept for 
an entire day. 

It does not lie within the province of this 
narrative to relate the happenings of the ensu- 
ing week. It is sufficient to state that De Mont- 
ville was joined by the Hussars he had parted 
from at Auxerre, and having ascertained that 
the Count de Vere was a guest of the King in 
the Tuileries, he watched his movements 
closely, waiting for a chance to effect his 
capture. 


THE PURSUIT 


55 


Meanwhile Napoleon was marching rapidly 
on Paris. His progress was a long ovation. 
Crowds of peasants surrounded his carriage, 
singing patriotic songs. At Lyons he was 
greeted with enthusiasm; at Lons-le-Saulnier, 
Marshal Ney, the sole hope of the Royalists, 
made a proclamation to his soldiers declaring 
for the Imperial cause, and four days later 
joined the Emperor at Auxerre. 

Between eleven o’clock and midnight on 
Palm Sunday, March 19th, some traveling car- 
riages were driven into the courtyard of the 
Tuileries, and stopped at the foot of the stair- 
way of the Pavilion of Flora. Louis XVIII 
descended the steps, entered one of them, was 
driven off in a pouring rain storm, and began 
another period of exile. 

On the evening of the following day, March 
20th, Napoleon entered Paris by the Gate of 
Italy, and was driven to the Tuileries amid the 
frenzied acclamations of the populace. He en- 
tered his old chamber, which the night before 
Louis XVIII had occupied. His prediction 
was accomplished. In twenty days from the 
Bay of Juan, the imperial eagle had flown, 
without once stopping, from steeple to steeple, 
even to the Towers of Notre Dame, even to the 
dome of the palace of the Tuileries. 

But Guilbert de Montville was not permitted 
to participate in the triumph of his master. 

On the morning following the King’s depart- 
ure one of his Hussars brought him word that 


56 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


the Count de Vere had fled from Paris to his 
chateau on the River Serre. So mounting- a 
horse, and taking the two faithful companions 
of his mission with him, he started once more 
in pursuit. For two days and nights they re- 
mained constantly in the saddle, dismounting 
only to eat, or for occasional short periods of 
rest, and on the afternoon of the third day ar- 
rived at the village of Vere in the Count’s an- 
cestral domain. 

As they were passing through the village one 
of the Hussars espied a solitary horseman rid- 
ing about half a mile ahead of them. Believ- 
ing it to be the man they were pursuing, he put 
spurs to his steed, and, calling upon his com- 
panions to follow, dashed forward at a furious 
gallop. 

He had not gone far, however, when he 
came to a cross-roads where a thick hedge 
bordered the highway. Reaching the junction 
some rods in advance of the others, he sudden- 
ly encountered a young lady, mounted on a 
spirited horse, cantering along the intersecting 
road. They met at right angles. A collision 
seemed inevitable. But the girl, with admira- 
ble presence of mind, drew her horse up in- 
stantly and swerved to the right. 

The frightened animal began to rear, circle 
and plunge. 

Terror-stricken, the girl dropped the reins, 
clung to him desperately and screamed. 


THE PURSUIT 


57 


Seeing her peril, De Montville put spurs to 
his horse, hurried to her side, and vaulting 
quickly from the saddle caught her in his arms 
just as she was sliding to the ground in a faint- 
ing condition. He supported her to a mossy 
bank by the road side, upon which she sank, 
trembling in every limb, while the Hussars who 
were with him rode up and seized her frenzied 
horse by the bit. 

There was a little rivulet by the roadside, 
bordering it like a ribbon of silver. De Mont- 
ville filled his drinking cup with the cool, clear 
water and gave it to the girl to drink. Revived 
by the draught, she looked up into his face 
gratefully and thanked him. 

He returned her gaze; but the next instant 
dropped his eyes dazzled by her beauty. 

Her hair was of a golden hue and most lux- 
uriant; it framed her perfectly oval face like a 
cloud. Delicately-penciled brows, arched like 
twin rainbows ; large, blue, wondering eyes ; an 
exquisitely chiseled nose, and a mouth expres- 
sive of extreme sensibility completed the vision 
of bewildering loveliness. 

De Montville felt as if he was in the pres- 
ence of a divinity. 

“Monsieur/’ she said, after thanking him, 
“I perceive you are a gentleman. You will not 
think me bold if I ask your name?” 

“No, mademoiselle. Since I met you as a 
stranger, it is only proper that I should intro- 
duce myself. My name is Guilbert de Mont- 
ville.” 


58 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“You are a soldier, Monsieur de Montville?” 

“Yes, a Captain of Hussars/’ 

At this her face brightened. 

“Ah, then you serve the King of France,” 
she said. 

“Not the King; for France has no longer a 
king. I serve the Emperor of France, mad- 
emoiselle.” 

“The Emperor?” 

“Aye, Napoleon.” 

“Then you are not a Royalist?” 

“I am an Imperialist, mademoiselle.” 

For an instant her beautiful face clouded; 
then, looking up at him with a smile like a sun- 
beam, she said impulsively: 

“Whether you serve the King, or Em- 
peror, it matters not. You have saved my life. 
Captain de Montville, and I am very grateful. 
Do you intend to remain long in Vere?” 

“Not more than a day, mademoiselle.” 

“I am sorry for that,” said she regretfully, 
“for I would be glad to have my family enter- 
tain you. It would delight them to extend hos- 
pitality to my preserver. Do you think you 
could find the time to call, monsieur?” 

“Mademoiselle, I promise you to find the 
time.” 

She arose with a gratified look, and beckon- 
ing De Montville to follow, glided gracefully 
toward her horse, which had by this time re- 
covered from his fright and was pawing the 


THE PURSUIT 


59 


ground by the roadside in the shade of a tree 
to which the Hussars had fastened him. On 
reaching the animal’s side she turned to her 
escort with the words : 

“Monsieur, will you assist me to mount?” 

When he had complied with this request she 
looked down at him archly and added : 

“You have not asked me where I live, mon- 
sieur. I reside in a great house on an island in 
the river. Any of the villagers can direct you 
to it if you really mean to keep your promise.” 

And with that she touched the flanks of the 
horse with her riding whip and cantered off, 
waving an adieu. 

De Montville gazed after her wistfully until 
she disappeared round a turn in the road, then 
rejoined his Hussars with a strange feeling of 
renewed interest in the sex he had sworn to 
abjure. 


CHAPTER VI 


A DOMESTIC PICTURE 

“There, is that right, governess?” 

The speaker was a girl of sixteen. She was 
bending over a table, a pencil in her hand, 
drawing laboriously upon a piece of cardboard. 

“Not quite,” answered her governess, a 
handsome young woman of dark complexion, 
whose strongly-marked eyebrows met close to- 
gether over an aquiline nose. 

“Well, then, it is impossible to get it right.” 

“Vivette!” 

The girl looked up at her governess inquir- 
ingly, revealing a pretty, doll-like face, framed 
in a mass of dark ringlets and enlivened by a 
pair of roguish black eyes. 

“Could any one get it nearer right than 
that?” she asked. 

“Let me show you,” said the governess, 
and taking the pencil she began to draw rap- 
idly and freely. 


A DOMESTIC PICTURE 


6 1 


This scene took place in the sitting room of 
the Chateau de Vere. It was the afternoon of 
a day late in March, and as the weather was 
cold a bright fire blazed upon the hearth, its 
light glowing ruddily upon the polished furni- 
ture and giving an air of comfort to the apart- 
ment. 

When the governess had finished the correc- 
tions, she returned the sketch to her pupil, say- 
ing: 

“There, you see? If you would only practice 
you could draw as well as I do.” 

“No, Hortense,” said Vivette, surveying the 
work of her governess in despair, “I shall never 
be able to do anything as well as you. Don’t 
you really think I’m hopeless — not worth 
while? You can’t transform a weed into a 
flower, and I’m only a wild weed that has de- 
ceived its gardener.” 

“All flowers are the outgrowth of weeds 
through cultivation,” remarked Hortense with 
a superior smile. 

“Is that so ? I don’t know much, do I ?” 

“No, my dear. You will require a great deal 
of cultivation before you are fit to adorn the 
social conservatory that awaits you.” 

“I don’t want to adorn a social conserva- 
tory,” returned the girl, pouting. “I dislike 
the stilted customs of society — the low court- 
sies — when all the time you’re stifling for a 
breath of freedom. I hate your accomplish- 
ments. I love the fields, I love the birds, I love 
the open air, I love — ” 


62 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


At that moment the door communicating 
with the piazza opened on a crack and the face 
of a handsome youth appeared in the aperture. 

“Hector?” inquired the governess archly, 
finishing her pupil’s sentence. “You love 
Hector ?” 

“Yes,” replied Vivette frankly. 

Instantly the face disappeared from the door, 
and a moment later its owner opened a window 
to the right of it and thrust in his head. 

“Good morning, Vivette,” he said, in the 
most innocent tones imaginable. 

The girl turned toward him with a smile of 
welcome. 

“O, it’s you, Hector!” she exclaimed; then, 
remembering her recent avowal, she blushed 
crimson and asked timidly, “did you hear what 
I said just now?” 

“No,” was the mendacious reply. 

“I’m so glad of that. Won’t you come in?” 

“I haven’t the time,” replied the youth. “I 
just ran over to inquire if you had received any 
news of your cousin, Count Eugene ?” 

“Why, no.” 

“Well, there are wild rumors afloat in the 
neighborhood that Napoleon has escaped from 
Elba.” 

“What, Napoleon escaped !” put in Hortense 
excitedly. 

“Yes. It is said he has returned to France. 
Word came from Grenoble that he met con- 
siderable resistance there.” 


A DOMESTIC PICTURE 63 

“Grenoble !” exclaimed Vivette. “Why, that 
is where Cousin Eugene is stationed.” 

“Exactly. And that is why I thought you 
might have heard from him.” 

At this point their conversation was inter- 
rupted by the clatter of hoofs on the road lead- 
ing to the chateau, and running to the window 
Hector beheld a horseman galloping rapidly to- 
ward the mansion. But it was not until he had 
reached the entrance and dismounted from his 
foam-flecked steed that he recognized him. 
Then, turning to Vivette with a face radiant 
with joy, “It is Eugene!” he exclaimed. 
“Hooray !” And with that he darted out to ex- 
tend a greeting to the traveler. 

How shall I describe the joy of that home- 
coming? 

Vivette summoned her mother, Madame 
Girard, to the sitting room, and together they 
welcomed their noble young relative with a sin- 
cerity and fervor of affection that was touch- 
ing. Hector ran off on the wings of the wind 
to inform his uncle, M. Francois Moulinet, a 
near neighbor and life-long friend of the De 
Veres, of the young Count’s return; the serv- 
ants gathered round to express their delight 
at his unexpected arrival, and even the disdain- 
ful governess, Hortense, relaxed from her 
habitual hauteur to greet him with a cordial 
smile. 

Nothing was wanting to render the reunion 
perfectly happy but the presence of the Count’s 


6 \ A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

only sister, Louise. When he inquired where 
she was, his aunt informed him that she had 
mounted her saddle horse shortly after lunch- 
eon and gone abroad for a canter through the 
neighboring country. 

“Then there is a surprise for her on her re- 
turn,” he said. “And now let me tell you the 
reason for my being here. Napoleon has es- 
caped from Elba. As the King’s Attorney at 
Grenoble I was obliged to resist his advance on 
Paris if possible. So, placing myself at the 
head of a band of devoted Royalists, I marched 
to the gates of Grenoble and closed them. But 
it was useless. When Napoleon arrived before 
the city the soldiers of the garrison broke down 
the gates and he marched triumphantly 
through them.” 

“The outlaw!” exclaimed Madame Girard. 

The Count continued : 

“What was I to do? The King must be 
saved at any hazard. From what I had seen 
it was apparent that the entire army would 
desert him and he would be powerless to oppose 
the usurper. So I escaped from Grenoble and 
rode night and day to Paris to warn the King 
of his peril. I reached Paris in safety and re- 
mained there until Napoleon appeared before 
the city and the King was obliged to flee. Then 
learning that Napoleon had ordered my arrest, 
I came home.” 

“But are you not in danger here?” asked 
Vivette. 


A DOMESTIC PICTURE 


65 

“I trust not/’ replied the Count anxiously; 
then, as if desirous of changing the subject to 
a lighter theme, he took his pretty cousin’s 
hand in his and asked playfully : 

“Hector Moulinet comes here very often, 
does he not?” 

‘Only two or three times a day,” returned 
Vivette, blushing. “I don’t call that very 
often.” 

“No, not very. For he might live here alto- 
gether, you know.” 

“He could hardly do that,” said Vivette with 
a conscious smile. “His uncle, Monsieur Mou- 
linet, couldn’t spare him. He’s a lonely old 
bachelor, and Hector is the only one he has to 
love. Some day Hector will inherit his entire 
fortune, if he has sense enough to please him. 
Why, I told him just the other day that I 
thought he had the best uncle in the world. He 
seemed pleased that I liked the old gentleman; 
but when I said that I liked him better than any 
man I knew, Hector didn’t seem quite so con- 
tented. I wonder why that was?” asked the 
charming hypocrite; and she added shrewdly, 
“can’t you see, Cousin Eugene, that I’ve got to 
keep on terms with the uncle?” 

At this naive remark Eugene laughed mer- 
rily. 

“Ah, Vivette,” he said, “you’re quite a diplo- 
matist.” Then, turning to Madame Girard, 
“Aunt Mathilde, you should be proud of your 


66 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


daughter ; but if I were you I would watch that 
uncle with a jealous eye.” 

“La!” cried Vivette roguishly, “she needn’t 
do that. It is true that Uncle Moulinet is fond 
of me, but he has confessed it was because I re- 
mind him of my charming mother.” 

“What, Aunt Mathilde, you, too?” cried 
Eugene. 

“Nothing of the sort.” returned Madame 
Girard with great dignity; then with a re- 
proachful glance at the governess, “Mademoi- 
selle Hortense,” she asked frigidly, “where did 
that girl acquire so much wisdom?” 

“Some things are hereditary, Madame Gir- 
ard.” 

However, it was not the governess who an- 
swered thus, but M. Francois Moulinet him- 
self, who had just entered the sitting room in 
company with his nephew. He was a dried up, 
yellow, little man, all vivacity and gesture, and 
might have passed for a dancing master were it 
not for the conventional cut of his black suit 
that proclaimed him to be a notary. 

Turning first to Madame Girard with an air 
of exquisite breeding, “Madame, your obedient 
servant,” he said. Then he approached the 
Count and kissed him heartily on the cheek. 

“My dear Eugene,” he said, “I have worried 
not a little about you, and am overjoyed to see 
you safe at home.” 

“But is he not in momentary danger here?” 
inquired Madame Girard fearfully. 


A DOMESTIC PICTURE 67 

M. Moulinet turned to her with an obsequi- 
ous bow. 

“Madame, your question is very apropos,” 
he said. “I divine that you think he is and 
coincide in your opinion perfectly.” 

“Then should he not hasten to the frontier ?” 

“To place himself beyond the possibility of 
arrest? Again, madame, I can but echo your 
wise suggestion.” 

“Uncle Moulinet,” put in Vivette with af- 
fected innocence, “you and mother would get 
along beautifully together, wouldn’t you?” 

“What do you mean, Vivette?” said her 
mother, vainly trying to hide her embarrass- 
ment. “I see no reason why we should not get 
along well together.” 

At this M. Moulinet fairly beamed with de- 
light. 

“Do you mean it, madame?” he asked fer- 
vently. 

“To be sure, as neighbors ” returned the old 
lady stiffly. 

“Madame!” 

“As we have done for the past thirty years, 
Monsieur Moulinet.” 

The notary gasped; then he turned fiercely 
upon Vivette. 

“You little vixen!” he exclaimed in an 
angry whisper. “You — you have made an old 
fool of me. I’ll — I’ll speak to Hector. I’ll sell 
out and we’ll move away.” 


68 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


The situation was relieved by the entrance 
of a new personage upon the scene. The door 
opened and a gentleman attired in the uniform 
of an officer of the Royal Chasseurs appeared 
upon the threshold. As he advanced into the 
room it could be seen that his face was pale and 
drawn and that he walked with a slight limp. 

“Ah, Major Durant/’ said Eugene coldly, 
“you are still in the neighborhood, I perceive.” 

“Yes,” replied the officer, “I am still in com- 
mand of the troops stationed at Vere.” 

“Have you declared for the Emperor ?” 

“Not yet. I have recently returned from a 
mission in the south, and from what I observed 
I believe that Napoleon has come back to stay. 
The army has declared for him; nevertheless, 
I am as yet unaffected by the change.” 

“Then you have not yet acknowledged the 
usurper’s authority?” asked Madame Girard 
eagerly. 

“Not yet!” 

“Thank God!” exclaimed the old lady fer- 
vently, “for now we can depend upon your 
friendship.” 

But although his aunt was satisfied on this 
score, the Count seemed disposed to be skepti- 
cal. The fact was, he did not like Durant, who 
since coming to take command at Vere six 
months’ before had persecuted his sister Louise 
with his attentions. The Count resented this 
as an impertinence, for he regarded the Major 
as a man not to be trusted. 


A DOMESTIC PICTURE 69 

He was on the point of expressing his skep- 
ticism with a pat sarcasm when Vivette, who 
had been looking out of the window, exclaimed 
suddenly : 

“Here comes Louise! Quick, Eugene, into 
the window! Hide behind the curtains and 
surprise her.” 

While speaking, she seized the Count’s arm, 
and fairly dragging him into the embrasure of 
the window closed the curtains after him. 

A short time afterwards Louise came burst- 
ing into the room, crying excitedly : 

“Oh, Aunt — Vivette — I have had such an 
adventure !” 

“An adventure?” 

“Yes, a real romance. Listen, all of you, 
with both ears !” 

Her aunt and cousin were all attention in an 
instant. 

“On my way home,” she continued, “I rode 
through the village and turned into the old 
road to Leon. As I reached the cross-roads I 
encountered three soldiers. One of them, rid- 
ing at a terrific pace, dashed suddenly upon 
me. The road was narrow, a stream close be- 
side it, and there was scarcely room to turn 
aside. However, I reined in quickly and 
swerved to the right. I thus avoided a colli- 
sion, but my horse began to rear and plunge. I 
saw one of the soldier’s ride up beside me and 
leap to the ground. Then I felt myself slipping 


7 ° 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


from the saddle. I clutched wildly at my 
horse’s mane, missed my hold and fell — ” 

“Into the stream?” broke in Vivette. 

“O, no ! Into the arms of a handsome offi- 
cer.” 

“Bravo !” shouted Hector. 

“Quite romantic!” sneered Durant. 

“Did you learn his name?” asked Vivette. 

“To be sure ; but he did not learn mine.” 

“Why didn’t you tell him?” 

“He didn’t ask, my dear.” 

“Well, I should have told him anyhow. But 
who was he?” 

“A distinguished officer, with a distinguish- 
ed name — Captain Guilbert de Montville.” 

Scarcely had Louise pronounced this name, 
when the governess uttered an agonized cry, 
and pressing her hands to her heart sank down 
limp and trembling upon a sofa. 


CHAPTER VII 


DE MONTVILLE TO THE RESCUE 

Louise was at her side in an instant. 

“What ails you, Hortense?” she asked anx- 
iously. “Are you ill ?” 

“No, not ill,” was the faint response; “but I 
was taken completely by surprise.” And she 
added in tragic tones, “I know this Guilbert de 
Montville.” 

“You know him?” 

“Intimately. I lived at his house for several 
years. I was — governess to his sister,” she fal- 
tered. 

“Tell me about him,” cried Louise eagerly. 

“I had better not.” 

“Go on ; I am wild to hear.” 

“No; for his heart may belong to another — 
to one who would die were she to lose it.” 

And the unhappy governess bowed her head 
between her hands and sighed. 


72 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Hortense,” cried Louise in tones of sudden 
enlightenment, “Hortense, it is you who love 
him.” 

“I?” was the meek response. “Nay, he is of 
the nobility, whereas I am but a governess.” 

Louise looked her full in the face and broke 
out into a nervous laugh. 

“And are you afraid I will lose my heart?” 
she cried. “No danger of that, Hortense, as 
you shall soon see.” 

“As I shall see?” 

“Yes, Captain de Montville promised to call 
before leaving the village.” 

“Today?” 

“Or tomorrow, or the next day. What does 
it matter when?” 

The governess sprang to her feet. 

“I hope he may never enter this house !” she 
exclaimed, and swept haughtily out of the 
room. 

While this impassioned dialogue was taking 
place in one part of the room, the rest of the 
company were conversing earnestly in another. 

Suddenly Vivette left the group, and ap- 
proaching Louise, said: 

“I have a surprise in store for you, Louise. 
Guess what it is.” 

“I cannot,” said Louise abstractedly. 

“Then I will show you. Look !” 

And running to the window Vivette flung 
aside the curtains, revealing Count Eugene 
hiding in the embrasure behind them. 


DE MONTVILLE TO THE RESCUE 


73 


“Oh, Eugene — brother !” cried Louise. 

And rushing forward she clasped him in a 
loving embrace. Presently she asked : 

“Eugene, what brought you home so unex- 
pectedly ?” 

“Politics, my dear.” 

“Politics?” 

“Yes. Have you not heard of Napoleon’s 
return to Paris and the King’s flight?” 

Louise turned pale. 

“Napoleon’s return?” she gasped. “You 
frighten me.” 

“We are all alarmed, my dear,” interposed 
Madame Girard, coming forward. “Your 
brother is in grave danger. The usurper has 
ordered his arrest. He is a fugitive. I have no 
doubt that the three soldiers you encountered 
at the cross-roads are on his track.” 

Then turning to Durant, who had been 
standing gloomily apart, listening and observ- 
ing, she inquired : 

“What is your opinion, Major?” 

“The same as yours, madame. If I am not 
mistaken, Captain Guilbert de Montville was 
one of the officers who accompanied the Em- 
peror to Elba. You can draw your own con- 
clusions, therefore, as to the reason for his 
presence now in Vere.” 

“What, Captain de Montville arrest my 
brother ? Impossible !” cried Louise. 

“He is a Bonapartist,” sneered Durant, “and 
is, therefore, capable of anything.” 


74 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


In his jealousy he was going to say more; 
but Count Eugene silenced him with a look. 

“Supposing he did arrest me/’ he said, “he 
would but perform his duty. There are now 
two factions in France — the Royalists and the 
supporters of Napoleon. They are sworn ene- 
mies ; but men of honor are to be found on both 
sides.” 

Louise now remembered that De Montville 
had confessed he was in the service of Napo- 
leon, and her fears were greatly augmented. 

“What will you do, Eugene?” she asked in 
tones of intense anxiety. 

He replied : 

“I must choose between exile and arrest.” 

“Then let it be exile,” she cried. “Go, Eu- 
gene, go at once !” 

The Count shook his head. 

“I cannot go,” he said; “my horse is com- 
pletely worn out. I rode him all the way from 
Paris.” 

“And mine is not equal to the emergency,” 
groaned Louise. 

Madame Girard wrung her hands in despair, 
crying : 

“Alas, what shall we do ?” 

“Do, madame?” replied M. Moulinet, join- 
ing the group. “It needed but your voice to 
arouse me. Do ? Why, the Count will go 
straight to my stable, saddle and mount the best 
horse there, and ride away to freedom. That’s 
what he’ll do, madame.” And the old gentle- 


DE MONTVILLE TO THE RESCUE 75 

man shook his head with an emphasis that 
would admit o.f no denial. 

Count Eugene grasped his hand fervently. 

“Monsieur Moulinet,” he said, “you are too 
generous.” 

“Not a bit of it, my dear Eugene. There’s 
not a horse in my stable that can’t outrace the 
wind. Hector can tell you that.” 

Thus appealed to, his nephew endorsed the 
statement and added : 

“Take the one in the first stall to the right of 
the stable door, Count, and nothing can over- 
take you. Uncle, I have an idea.” 

“Have you, my boy ? Let us hear it.” 

“Let Count Eugene go to our stable and 
start at once on the road to the frontier. Mean- 
while I will saddle and mount his horse and 
wait within sight of this sitting room. When 
the soldiers arrive to arrest the Count, let the 
ladies delay them in the house as long as pos- 
sible, and when they can detain them no longer 
let Vivette wave her handkerchief from the 
window, and I will dash away in an opposite 
direction and lead them off the Count’s track.” 

Vivette clapped her hands in delight. 

“Splendid, Hector!” she cried approvingly. 
“You will be a general some day.” 

Hector’s plan meeting with the approbation 
of all, it was accordingly put in execution. M. 
Moulinet led the Count off in triumph to his 
stable ; Hector departed to play his part of de- 
coy; Vivette took her station at the window, 


76 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


while Madame Girard sought the privacy of 
her chamber to pray for the success of the ad- 
venture. 

Finding himself alone with Louise, Major 
Durant turned to her and said : 

“Mademoiselle, I have a better plan than 
Hector’s.” 

“Indeed?” she answered frigidly. “What is 
it?” 

“It is rather a hazardous one for me, as I 
should incur Napoleon’s displeasure; but I 
would risk the hatred of Beelzebub to please 
you, Mademoiselle Louise.” 

She regarded him with infinite disdain and 
said : 

“Your plan, Major — what is it?” 

“Simply this,” he replied. “When Captain 
De Montville arrives I will pick a quarrel with 
him, force him into a duel and kill him.” 

At this cold-blooded proposition the girl 
turned pale and shuddered. 

“No, no, you shall do nothing of the kind !” 
she cried. “He never wronged you.” 

“He means to arrest your brother.” 

“He must find him first.” 

Durant frowned darkly. 

“Mademoiselle,” he hissed between his 
clenched teeth, “you love this soldier of the 
Empire.” 

“Well, and what if I do?” she cried, draw- 
ing herself up to her full height and confront- 
ing him with a look of supreme defiance. 


DE MONTVILLE TO THE RESCUE 77 

“What if you do — what if you do, 
mademoiselle?” he echoed anxiously; then he 
broke into a fiendish chuckle and added : “Noth- 
ing, only I warn you that he shall never leave 
this island alive.” 

His threat filled her with alarm ; but she still 
defied him. 

“Monsieur,” she said haughtily, “you are in- 
solent. You are jealous.” 

“Yes, jealous !” he cried passionately — “jeal- 
ous of everything that touches you; of every 
eye that devours your incomparable beauty; of 
every ear that drinks the sweet music of your 
voice.” .Then losing all self-control, he seized 
her in his arms and whispered ardently, 
“Louise, I love you ; I adore you.” 

She felt his hot breath upon her cheek and, 
with a feeling of unutterable loathing, strug- 
gled to escape from his embrace, crying: 

“Release me; release me, do you hear!” 

But he only held her the tighter, and an- 
swered : 

“Not until your lips have given me assur- 
ance, by word or kiss, that my love is returned. 
Speak, mademoiselle; say that you love me!” 

“Release me; release me,” she repeated. 

“Not until I have my answer.” 

And forgetting everything in the delirium of 
his passion he kissed her violently upon the 
lips. 

“Monster!” she screamed. “Help, help!” 

Vivette, who from her station on the embras- 
ure of the window had been an indignant wit- 


78 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

ness of this outrage, was about to rush to her 
cousin’s rescue, when suddenly the figure of a 
man darkened the casement and she was 
startled by a deafening crash of falling glass 
and splintering wood. 

The next instant a soldier, attired in the uni- 
form of a Captain of Hussars, bounded through 
the opening, dashed past her into the room, and 
seizing Durant in an iron grasp hurled him vio- 
lently against the wall, crying : 

“Stand off, monsieur !” 

Instinctively Louise turned toward her pre- 
server and recognized Captain de Montville. 
Before she could recover from her astonish- 
ment he pointed to Durant and asked courte- 
ously : 

“Is this fellow offensive to you, mademoi- 
selle?” 

“Very,” she replied faintly. 

He then addressed Durant. 

“Monsieur,” he said sternly,” I’ll trouble you 
to withdraw.” 

Up to this moment the discomfited Major 
had no idea who his assailant was; but now 
recognizing him as the incomparable swords- 
man who had wounded him thrice in as many 
seconds at Auxerre, his rage overcame his pru- 
dence and he cried out in a fury : 

“Scoundrel, I demand satisfaction for this 
insult!” 

“Let it be tonight, then,” said De Mont- 
ville with a grim smile. 


DE MONTVILLE TO THE RESCUE 


79 


“Tonight.” 

“At six.” 

“Agreed.” 

“By the old mill just above the bridge.” 

“Til be there.” 

And fixing upon his rival a look of intense 
hatred, the Major departed. 


CHAPTER VIII 


LOUISE PLAYS THE SIREN 

De Montville kept his eyes fixed grimly upon 
Durant until the door had closed behind him, 
and then looked around to discover that during 
their brief altercation the ladies had with- 
drawn, leaving him alone. 

Believing this to be a hint for him to depart, 
he was about to beat a retreat through the win- 
dow when a door in another part of the room 
opened and a young woman glided noiselessly 
across the threshold. Her manner was submis- 
sive and she kept her face bowed meekly to- 
wards the floor. He watched her draw near 
him with a feeling of indefinable dread. 

Suddenly she raised her head and looked him 
full in the eyes. 

“Hortense de Graysant!” he exclaimed in 
dismay. 


LOUISE PLAYS THE SIREN 


81 


“Yes, Guilbert, it is I,” she said reproachful- 
ly. “Ah, I have prayed for this moment morn- 
ing and night, and at last you have come to 
me.” 

“To you, Hortense? O, no. It is the Count 
de Vere I wish to see.” 

“Yes, I know, I know; but listen, Guilbert. 
You don’t know what I’ve suffered these past 
two years. I wronged you, but I have been 
punished.” 

“Hortense, you forget you are a wife.” 

“True, I was, but am now a widow.” 

“What, the Prince de Graysant is dead?” 

“Dead, by his own hand. My first impulse 
was to follow him. He left me a poisonous 
powder like the one he had taken, for that pur- 
pose; but I thought of you, dear Guilbert, and 
so have waited.” 

And she looked up into his face with an ex- 
pression of passionate adoration. 

Although the young man had once loved this 
woman, she was nothing to him now, and he 
returned her ardent glance with an icy stare. 
For a moment both were silent; then he added 
indifferently : 

“What motive had your husband for taking 
his own life?” 

“A gambler’s motive,” she replied. “He ran 
through both our fortunes.” And she added 
with a bitter laugh, “Oh, it was all in the cup, 
and I have drained it to the very dregs ! I was 
once a princess, but now — ” 


82 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“What are you now ?” he asked coldly. 

She bowed her head humbly upon her bosom 
and answered meekly: 

“A governess.” 

“Hortense,” said De Montville kindly, for 
he was touched by her apparent sincerity, “I 
believe you are trying to lead an honest, up- 
right life, and so am willing to forgive you for 
all the suffering you have caused me in the 
past.” Then, wishing to terminate the inter- 
view, “Will you be so good as to tell me where 
I can find the Count de Vere?” he asked. 

While the words were still upon his lips, 
Louise swept gracefully into the room, and 
seeing De Montville and the governess in con- 
versation came to a sudden pause, blushing like 
a rose. She looked so radiantly beautiful as 
she stood there, hesitating and confused, that 
De Montville gazed at her in open admiration. 
Observing this, Hortense became possessed 
with the demon of jealousy and hastily left the 
room, not, however, without shooting a pois- 
oned arrow into the bosom of her former lover 
to rankle there and cause him infinite pain. 

“So you wish to find the Count de Vere?” 
she called back at him from the doorway ; then 
pointing to Louise she added significantly, 
“this young lady is his sister. Perhaps she can 
tell you where he is.” 

She his sister? 

What an irony of fate ! 


LOUISE PLAYS THE SIREN 83 

De Montville had come to the chateau to ar- 
rest the Count de Vere, and as he approached 
the house stealthily to avoid exciting suspicion, 
had heard loud cries for help issuing from a 
room on the ground floor. Crashing through 
the window he had rushed to the rescue and 
discovered to his surprise and joy that the per- 
son in distress was none other than the lovely 
girl he had encountered earlier in the after- 
noon. .That she had made a profound impres- 
sion on his chivalrous heart he now for the first 
time realized; else why should he experience 
such a sudden revulsion of feeling toward the 
performance of his duty? 

This divine creature the sister of the man he 
was commissioned to arrest ! 

It seemed monstrous to put his honor to so 
severe a test. A less honest man might have 
then and there abandoned his mission, but with 
De Montville fidelity to the Emperor was an 
article of religion. 

While he was still struggling helplessly be- 
tween love and duty, Louise approached him 
with an animated smile, and said : 

“Captain de Montville, you will pardon me 
for leaving you so suddenly; but I wished to 
give some orders to the servants for your enter- 
tainment. I have to thank you again, mon- 
sieur, for your heroism. It was so good of you 
to call. I was afraid you had forgotten me.” 

“Forgotten you ?” returned the Captain gal- 
lantly. “And had you so poor an opinion of a 


84 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

soldier’s memory, mademoiselle? Nay, what- 
ever faults they may have, I assure you a bad 
memory cannot be charged up against them, es- 
pecially when it is to recall a lovely face.” 

She blushed charmingly. 

“And is flattery one of their many virtues, 
monsieur?” she inquired archly. 

“No, mademoiselle,” he replied with mock 
seriousness, “my observation and experience 
lead me to believe them very sincere — particu- 
larly when under the scrutiny of a pair of be- 
witching eyes.” 

“Monsieur, your gallantry so abashes me that 
I quite forget my manners. Won’t you pray 
be seated ?” 

And she motioned him to a chair ; but he gra- 
ciously declined it, saying : 

“I have already overstayed my time. I came 
to—” 

“To call on me and fulfil your promise,” 
she interposed quickly. “I feel greatly honored 
that you have been so prompt. I have already 
told my relatives how you saved me from a 
serious accident this afternoon, and I hope to 
present you to them before you leave.” 

“Mademoiselle, you forget it was my fault 
that your horse became frightened.” 

“And was it your fault that I was insulted 
just now ? Ah, monsieur,” she added in tones 
of gentle raillery, “I have discovered another 
of the soldier’s many virtues — extreme mod- 
esty.” 


LOUISE PLAYS THE SIREN 85 

“Modesty ? Say rather a proper want of con- 
ceit, mademoiselle.” 

“Modesty is a sweeter term. It is a quality 
that becomes you well, monsieur ; nevertheless, 
I shall not permit you to undervalue your 
heroic action.” 

“I did no more than any man would have 
done in my place,” he protested. 

“Indeed?” she returned. “Permit me to re- 
mind you, monsieur, that there were two sol- 
diers with you when my horse became unman- 
ageable — both nearer to me than you were. 
Did either of them offer me assistance? Did 
either of them come to my rescue a moment 
ago? No, Captain de Montville, I know a 
real hero when I see one and insist upon your 
bearing the title.” 

At this he laughed good-humoredly. 

“Well, since you insist I will not protest,” 
he said. 

A lackey now entered the room with a silver 
tray, containing cake and wine, which he placed 
upon the sideboard. When he had retired, 
Louise again invited her guest to be seated, and 
helped him to the refreshments with her own 
hand. 

If he had been less under the spell of her 
charms he might have suspected that she had a 
motive in her ostentatious hospitality; but it 
was such a delight to have her serve him that 
he never divined she had a reason for her ex- 
treme graciousness. The truth was, she was 


86 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


employing all her fascinations to detain him 
until her brother had made good his escape. 
Thus even the best of women at times play the 
siren. 

“Mademoiselle,” said the infatuated young 
man, sipping the wine this Hebe offered him, 
“your condescension quite overpowers me. I 
came to this charming chateau to perform an 
unpleasant duty, and behold I have encounter- 
ed a romance.” 

“A soldier’s life must be filled with 
romance,” she said demurely. 

“On the contrary, mademoiselle, it is mostly 
filled with work and fighting. It is seldom that 
a man of my profession can pause in the mad 
whirl of events, such as have swept France for 
a decade or more, and take out of his life, as I 
am doing now, a brief half hour and make a 
dream of it.” 

“A dream?” 

“Yes, a dream so beautiful, so entrancing, 
that he profoundly dreads the awakening.” 

“Then why not continue to dream, mon- 
sieur ?” 

“Ah, if I only might !” he exclaimed fervent- 
ly. “But when the stern voice of duty sounds 
in the dreamer’s ear he must obey.” 

He arose to his feet, and setting his empty 
wine glass on the sideboard started toward the 
door, saying resolutely : 

“Mademoiselle, my dream is o’er.” 

“No, no,” she cried, laying her little hand 
upon his arm to detain him. “You said half an 


LOUISE PLAYS THE SIREN 87 

hour, monsieur. You have dreamed but ten 
minutes. Pray sit down.” 

Realizing that decision alone could save him, 
he looked her full in the face and asked : 

“Mademoiselle, do you know the real object 
of my visit here?” 

“To be sure,” she answered artfully. 

“You do?” 

“Yes, it was to call on me, and, as you have 
just said, to take a little half hour out of the 
work and peril of your life and make a dream 
of it. And, monsieur,” she added in tones that 
sent a thrill through every fibre of his being, 
“I am going to help you.” 

“But, mademoiselle, hear me — ” 

“No, there is time enough to listen to your 
protests when the half hour has expired.” 

While speaking, she hurried to the sideboard, 
refilled the glass be had just laid down, and ex- 
tending it to him with a bewitching smile, she 
said gayly: 

“Come, pledge me a toast, monsieur!” 

Then she filled a second glass for herself and 
held it up for him to clink. 

For a moment he hesitated; then, with a low 
bow, in which there was as much of reverence 
as courtesy, “To Woman, God’s best gift to 
man!” he cried. And touching his glass to 
hers, drained it to the dregs. 

At that moment Madame Girard and Vivette 
entered. After he had been presented to the 
ladies and the customary compliments had 


88 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


passed between them, De Montville inquired of 
Louise : 

“Mademoiselle, is your brother, the Count 
Eugene de Vere, at home?” 

The dismay occasioned by this question was 
immediately forgotten in a greater cause for 
consternation. 

At that instant a Chasseur thrust his head in 
at the window, crying : 

“Captain, your man is escaping!” 

De Montville sprang toward the window, 
forgetting everything but the duty that was his 
to perform. He was in the act of passing 
through it when a sharp report was heard out- 
side. 

He threw up his hands, staggered back into 
the room, and sank, pale and gasping, into an 
armchair. 

Louise was at his side in an instant. 

“Oh, monsieur, are you hurt?” she asked 
anxiously. 

“A scratch — a mere scratch,” he whispered, 
and the next moment fell back unconscious. 

Meanwhile Vivette, who had taken her sta- 
tion at the window to give the appointed signal 
with her handkerchief, descried a little cloud 
of white smoke hovering above a clump of rose- 
bushes on the lawn. 

Presently a man emerged from the thicket 
cautiously, and hurried away. 

In his hand was a musket. 

It was Major Durant. 


CHAPTER IX 


LOVE AND HATE 

If in firing upon De Montville from an am- 
bush, Major Durant had hoped to remove a 
dangerous rival to his love, he should have 
made sure of killing his man, for by merely 
wounding him he advanced De Montville’s in- 
terests with Louise immeasurably. 

Not only were her sympathies aroused by his 
misfortune, but as his hurt rendered his de- 
parture from the chateau impossible, he had the 
advantage of receiving constant ministrations 
from her hand, conversing with her daily, and 
unveiling those noble qualities of heart and 
mind that were sure to enlist her affection. 

For three weeks De Montville lay in an up- 
per chamber of the chateau, hovering between 
life and death, and during all this time Louise 
nursed him with the tenderest care. Indeed, it 
was to her that he owed his recovery, for his 
injury was all but mortal. 


90 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

The fourth week brought a change in his 
condition. 

His wound began to heal, his fever abated, 
and the doctors pronounced him past all dan- 
ger. But he was still very weak and needed 
careful attention. 

The period of his convalescence was a happy 
dream to him. It is true that at times his 
wound gave him considerable pain; but this 
was more than compensated by the sweet com- 
panionship of his gentle nurse. It was from 
her hand that he took his medicines; she pre- 
pared dainties to tempt his appetite, read to 
him, conversed with him, cheered him when he 
was depressed and laughed with him when he 
was gay. When he dropped to sleep it was to 
dream of her; when he awoke it was to find her 
sitting by his side. She was his guardian angel 
at night and his ministering angel during the 
day. 

There is no more dangerous situation for a 
young man and woman of congenial temper- 
ament to be placed in than that of patient and 
nurse. For on the one side gratitude, and on 
the other sympathy, prepares the way for love. 
And so it happened that as the days passed by 
an ardent and enduring affection sprang up be- 
tween these two, and life had a broader, deeper 
meaning for them. 

At the expiration of two months De Mont- 
ville had recovered sufficient strength to leave 
his room and take the air on the piazza. 


LOVE AND HATE 


9 1 


He was sitting there one balmy afternoon 
in early June, conversing with Louise, when 
one of his Hussars, who had remained at the 
chateau during his illness, appeared on the 
lawn in front of them. He had been drinking 
and, unmindful of the fact that he was accept- 
ing the hospitality of Royalists, had stuck his 
tri-colored cockade jauntily in his beaver, wear- 
ing it with an ostentatious bravado that was 
highly offensive to the sensitive girl. Blushing 
with indignation, she turned to De Montville 
and said: 

“Monsieur Guilbert, is it with your consent 
that that fellow affronts us thus?” And she 
pointed to the cockade. 

De Montville looked at the Hussar, saw the 
cockade and divined her meaning in an instant. 
But he was too much enamored of the tri-color 
to order it from the soldier’s chapeau. So he 
answered evasively: 

“Mademoiselle, why should you take offense 
at the emblem of liberty ? Is it not the badge of 
man’s equality and fraternity — the glorious in- 
signia of heroes ?” 

“It is the insignia of Bonaparte, and there- 
fore is displeasing to a Royalist and an aristo- 
crat like myself.” 

De Montville turned and saluted the tri- 
color, saying: 

“Hail to the emblem I have sworn to serve! 
Is it your pleasure, mademoiselle, that I should 
command that honest fellow to discard it — that 


92 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

I should dishonor it to win a smile from you ?” 

“N-no,” she stammered faintly. “I would 
have you true to whatever cause you serve/’ 
Then she cried out impulsively, “Oh, Guilbert ! 
why do you follow the fortunes of that adven- 
turer ?” 

“Mademoiselle,” he replied, “I will answer 
your question with another. Why do you rev- 
erence a King whom the nation rejects?” 

“Because he is the lawful sovereign of 
France,” she said. 

“Pardon me ; there is but one law that reason 
can recognize in such matters — that of the peo- 
ple’s will. It is the people’s will in France that 
Napoleon should be Emperor. Therefore he is 
their lawful sovereign and Louis XVIII a 
usurper. Is it not true?” 

She did not answer. 

“You say that Napoleon is an adventurer,” 
he continued earnestly. “Then he is an adven- 
turer for the glory of France. Mademoiselle, 
you do not know the man; but I do. At the 
time when this nation was in the throes of the 
Revolution and blood flowed like water in con- 
sequence of the tyranny of your King’s fore- 
fathers, Napoleon arose like a prophet of old 
and replaced anarchy with order. He became 
the champion of the people and their rights. He 
fought all Europe to preserve their liberties, 
making tyrants bow before the tri-color, and 
rendering it ever glorious in the eyes of man- 
kind.” 


LOVE AND HATE 93 

Then completely carried away with ardor 
for his theme, he added passionately : 

“Mademoiselle, I have learned to love you. 
Nevertheless, sooner than dishonor that divine 
emblem of man’s equality and freedom, I would 
part from you never to see your beautiful face 
in this world again.” 

His enthusiasm was contagious. 

“Dear Guilbert,’ she murmured softly, “do 
you really mean you love me?” 

“Better than my life,” he answered. 

“.Then I see my duty clearly.” 

She arose, with flushed cheeks and sparkling 
eyes, and confronting the Hussar curtsied low 
to his tri-colored cockade, exclaiming fer- 
vently : 

“Emblem of Freedom, I salute thee and 
adopt thee for my own ! For sooner than part 
from my beloved Guilbert, I would renounce 
ten thousand kings !” 

From that time she became as ardent an Im- 
perialist as she had before been a Royalist. 

It is not in the nature of things for two lov- 
ers, adoring one another as they did, to remain 
long apart. And so it happened that when he 
had fully recovered his health, De Montville 
urged Louise to marry him before he was called 
back to military service, and she consented. 

It was decided that the ceremony should be 
performed in the little church at Vere, early in 
July, and as the bride’s brother, Count Eugene, 
was in exile — having made good his escape 


94 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

across the frontier when De Montville received 
his wound — that Monsieur Moulinet should 
give her away. It is true that he accepted the re- 
sponsibility reluctantly, urging that his friend, 
the Count, would never have consented to his 
sister’s union with an Imperialist had he been 
at home; but as Louise declared she would 
marry her lover clandestinely if he refused, he 
was at last prevailed on to lend his countenance 
to the affair. 

The wedding was to be strictly private, the 
party to consist only of the bride and groom, 
M. Moulinet, his son Hector, Madame Girard, 
and Vivette. A collation was to be served in 
the chateau on the return from the church, and 
the married couple were to pass a brief honey- 
moon at De Montville’s home in Dauphiny. 
Such were the simple arrangements for an 
event that promised to be the happiest in the 
young Captain’s life. 

Meantime Hortense de Graysant, furious 
that her former lover should have abandoned 
her for another woman, resolved that the wed- 
ding should never take place. 

To help her in her plotting, she formed an 
alliance with De Montville’s inveterate enemy, 
Major Durant. As that officer was believed to 
be responsible for the Captain’s wound, he was 
no longer received at the chateau ; but she met 
him clandestinely in the evening, on the out- 
skirts of Vere, and together they hatched a plot 
for the undoing of the happy lovers. 


LOVE AND HATE 


95 


Durant loved Louise and hated De Mont- 
ville; Hortense loved the Captain and was in- 
sanely jealous of Louise. It was to the selfish 
interest of each, therefore, to prevent their mar- 
riage, and neither of them had the slightest 
scruples regarding the means necessary to effect 
that end. 

After a number of secret conferences, in the 
course of which various impracticable schemes 
were discussed and abandoned, the conspirators 
hit upon the following plan of operations: It 
was known that the Count de Vere would 
never consent to his sister’s marrying an Im- 
perialist — especially one who was an officer in 
Napoleon’s army. Moreover, as his sister’s 
guardian, he had the authority to forbid the 
wedding. 

They determined, therefore, to send him a 
warning letter, apprising him of Louise’s mad 
infatuation for De Montville, and urging him 
to hurry home to prevent her from becoming 
his wife. It mattered not to them that the 
Count would incur the danger of arrest by re- 
turning to his chateau, for all their thoughts 
were bent upon the gratification of their hatred. 

Hortense wrote the letter in a disguised 
hand, describing De Montville as an unscrupu- 
lous adventurer, and stating the day when the 
wedding was to take place. She concluded by 
imploring the Count to return at once if he 
valued his sister’s future happiness, and signed 
the communication, “An Old Friend of Your 


9 6 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

Honored House.” Durant undertook the de- 
livery of this precious document, and accord- 
ingly dispatched a trusted courier to Brussels 
— where it was known the Count was living in 
exile — a fortnight before the day set for the 
wedding. 

Thus while Love was fabricating for the en- 
raptured pair bright visions of future bliss, 
Hate was working secretly to destroy the 
dream castles. 


CHAPTER X 


PLOTTING 

It was the morning of the day appointed for 
the wedding. 

Hortense de Graysant was pacing back and 
forth in the chateau garden, her bosom torn 
with baffled rage and jealousy, for the wedding 
party had long since departed for the little 
church, and the Count had not returned to pre- 
vent the marriage. 

Suddenly, from the distant village, came 
floating faintly the joyous tolling of a bell, an- 
nouncing that the ceremony was over. 

At this she raised her clenched hands to 
heaven and exclaimed passionately: 

“Oh, those bells, those bells; filling their 
wedded hearts with the happiness of heaven — 
filling mine with the misery of hell ! 

“Happiness was never meant for you, Hor- 
tense. To you love was but a luring light, 
leading you up to the heights of hope only that 


9 8 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


you might plunge into the depths of despair 
and hate. Yes, a wild, insane hate that will not 
be controlled. It has been a battle of hearts 
and you have lost.” 

While she was thus giving vent to her emo- 
tions, a familiar voice called to her from a 
thicket : 

“Madame Hortense !” 

Turning quickly she descried the malignant 
countenance of Durant peering through 
an opening in the foliage. A moment later he 
crept stealthily from his hiding place and join- 
ed her. 

“No word as yet from the Count de Vere?” 
he inquired anxiously. 

“None,” she answered gloomily. 

“Well, it was a clever scheme of ours to 
send him that letter ; but I never had any faith 
in his coming.” 

“He would have come,” she said with a 
sneer, “if he were not like all men — a coward.” 

“All men?” 

“O, you are the exception that proves the 
rule, Major.” 

And she broke into a bitter laugh. 

“Thank you, madame,” said the Major 
with an assumption of gallantry. “I call you 
to witness that, if I had followed my inclina- 
tion, I would have rendered this wedding im- 
possible.” 

She shrugged her shoulders disdainfully. 


PLOTTING 


99 


“Yes, I know,” she returned. “You would 
have fought Captain de Montville. What 
then? He would have killed you and the 
wedding would have taken place just the same. 
Your plan would have failed as utterly as did 
your attempt to assassinate him three months 
ago. No, my plan was the better one.” 

“If he had only come,” he muttered. 

“He may come yet,” replied Hortense hope- 
fully. 

“Come, come !” cried Durant petulantly. 
“What good can the Count do by coming now ? 
They are man and wife.” 

“What has that to do with our revenge?” 
she said vindictively. “Must we abandon that 
because the Count de Vere has disappointed us? 
No; from henceforth it shall be the object of 
my life to render Guilbert de Montville and 
his bride unhappy. I will sow discord between 
them, poison his mind with doubts of her, 
arouse his jealousy, and make him realize what 
it means to scorn the love of a woman like my- 
self.” 

“How will you do all this ?” 

“By making the most of every opportunity 
that presents itself.” 

At this juncture they heard footsteps ap- 
proaching from the direction of the chateau. 

“Monsieur,” said Hortense, “some one is 
coming into the garden. You must leave me at 
once, for I must not be compromised by being 
found in your company. Quick; back to your 

tL.of C. 


IOO 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


hiding place. If it should prove to be the 
Count de Vere, I will meet you here to-night 
and let you know.” 

Durant lost no time in putting her command 
into execution; nor was he a second too soon, 
for scarcely had he plunged into the thicket, 
when a gentleman appeared suddenly round a 
turn in the garden and advanced with rapid 
strides toward Hortense. 

It was the Count de Vere. 

It was evident that he had just dismounted 
from a long and furious ride, for his clothes 
were badly travel-stained and his boots splash- 
ed with mud. 

“ Welcome, Monsieur le Count!” exclaimed 
the governess, making him a respectful curtsy. 
“May I inquire what brings you home so unex- 
pectedly ?” 

“The honor of my house,” he returned ex- 
citedly. “Word reached me in my exile that 
my sister was about to wed the man who sought 
my arrest; that she, a Royalist, was about to 
take for a husband an adventurer and an enemy 
to the King. I have come home with all possi- 
ble haste to prevent it.” 

“Monsieur, you are too late. The ceremony 
is over. They are now man and wife.” 

“Too late!” exclaimed the Count wildly. 

And he turned and started back toward the 
chateau. 

“Stop, monsieur!” cried Hortense, placing 
herself in his path. “What are you going to 
do?” 


PLOTTING 


IOI 


“I am going to find Louise and call her to 
task for her disregard of my authority,” he 
answered. “She shall know that I will never 
sanction her mad union with this adventurer.” 

“No, monsieur,” said Hortense, “you must 
not return to the chateau. Have you forgotten 
that Captain de Montville is still under orders 
to arrest you ? Even his love for Louise would 
not swerve him from his duty. I know the 
man. He would thrust you into prison though 
it broke his heart and hers.” 

“It matters not,” he returned; “I will never 
sanction this marriage.” 

And he endeavored to remove her from his 
path. But she clung to him desperately, cry- 
ing: 

“Nay, monsieur; stop and consider. I can 
think of no greater calamity to this house than 
that you and Captain de Montville should 
meet.” 

This time her entreaties had the desired ef- 
fect. 

“You are right,” he said. “Ah, if I had only 
arrived an hour sooner I might have saved 
her!” 

“True; but since you arrived too late, you 
must not sacrifice yourself. Be advised by me. 
Go and conceal yourself until nightfall. Then 
return here and I will arrange to have you see 
Louise alone.” 

“You promise this?” 

“I promise.” 


102 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“Then I will follow your instructions, 
madame. I will go now, but you may expect 
me here to meet my sister after dark.” 

With these words he turned sadly away, and 
following a path that led from the chateau, dis- 
appeared from view. 

When he had gone, Hortense resumed her 
pacing of the garden, her brows knit in pro- 
found meditation. Her pondering resulted in 
a dark and cunning plot in which the Count 
was to be made the unwitting instrument of 
her revenge. 

Meanwhile the wedding party had returned 
to the chateau. As the day was warm, they did 
not enter the house at once, but loitered on the 
lawn in front of it until the wedding breakfast 
should be served. Madame Girard sank lang- 
uidly upon a marble seat in the shade of an oak, 
while M. Moulinet took his station at her side 
and began fanning her vigorously. 

“Well, it is over at last,” she said. “Didn’t 
Louise look lovely?” 

“Lovely, madame ?” replied the notary ; “she 
was a dream of loveliness — and lace — and or- 
ange blossoms — and — and fluffs. Her cheeks 
were like pink peaches and her lips like ripe 
cherries. How I envy the man who plucks 
them !” 

“Monsieur Moulinet!” exclaimed the old 
lady reprovingly. Then, turning to the bride 
and groom, “And are you very happy, chil- 
dren?” she asked with a maternal smile. 


PLOTTING 


103 


“Happy ?” cried De Montville. “Louise, she 
asks if we are happy. Why, Aunt Mathilde, 
I have been given a glimpse of heaven to-day. 
And to think that to-morrow we start for my 
old home in the sunny south — a grand old 
chateau, hidden away in the wooded hills of 
Dauphiny.” 

At this M. Moulinet heaved a sigh. 

“Well, what are you sighing about ?” in- 
quired Madame Girard with asperity. 

“Madame,” he replied, “I was thinking how 
partial a goddess is Happiness.” 

“Surely you do not envy them their happi- 
ness ?” 

“O no; but I should like to find out from 
the Captain how to woo and win her favor.” 

“I will tell you, monsieur,” said De Mont- 
ville, laughing gayly. “Don’t seek her. Go 
about the labors of life and let the fair goddess 
see that you merit her favor and she will come 
to you on seraph wings.” 

The notary shook his head incredulously. 

“Will she?” he cried. “Young man, I’ve 
been attending strictly to business for the past 
thirty years, and as yet I’ve not seen a feather.” 

“Feathers!” put in Vivette roguishly; “why, 
Uncle Moulinet, mother’s new hat is full of 
them.” 

At this juncture a servant came out of the 
chateau, announcing that the wedding break- 
fast was served. M. Moulinet offered his arm 
to Madame Girard, saying : 


104 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Madame, permit me?” 

“After the bride and groom, monsieur,” she 
returned. 

“Come, Guilbert,” said Louise, taking her 
aunt’s hint, “I see we are expected to lead the 
way.” 

And with that she took her husband’s arm, 
and together they headed the little procession 
to the room where the feast was spread. 

It would be impossible to do justice to the 
scene that followed. The table was piled high 
with the most delicious viands and adorned 
with masses of bright-hued flowers. The bride 
and groom sat side by side at its head; on 
their right hand sat Madame Girard and M. 
Moulinet, and on their left Vivette and Hector; 
while opposite them sat Hortense de Graysant, 
who had been summoned from the garden to 
participate in the joy of the occasion. 

But it certainly was not a joyous feast to 
her. Every rapturous look that De Montville 
bestowed upon his beautiful bride was a stab 
to her; every word of love a deadly wound. 
It is true that she laughed with the others, but 
it was from a desolate heart; that she joined in 
the toasts, but it was in a spirit of despair and 
mockery. She was glad when the last course 
had been served and she could escape once again 
into the garden to give vent to her ungovern- 
able jealousy in passionate exclamations. 

Later in the day she met Louise alone in the 
sitting room and remarked casually : 


PLOTTING 105 

“Madame De Montville, is your husband 
still under orders to arrest your brother?” 

“I believe so,” answered Louise. 

“Suppose the Count should return home un- 
expectedly; would you consent to his arrest?” 

“Never!” 

“You have not only sworn to love and honor, 
but to obey your husband. Suppose he should 
command you to disclose your brother’s where- 
abouts, would you do it?” 

“Oh, Hortense!” exclaimed Louise with a 
vague feeling of alarm. “Why do you ask me 
such questions?” 

“I will tell you by and by,” returned the gov- 
erness. “For the present, listen : If your hus- 
band should meet your brother, what do you 
think he would do?” 

“I do not know. He is the soul of honor — a 
slave to duty.” 

“Not even his love for you would swerve 
him?” 

“No; nor would I permit it. I could not 
love a man who proved unfaithful to his duty.” 

“And you are right,” said Hortense, approv- 
ingly; adding, “such being the case, we must 
prevent their meeting.” 

“Why, Hortense?” cried Louise anxiously, 
“you speak as though Eugene were coming 
here.” 

“Madame, he is here already. He came to 
prevent your marriage. He would have met 
you on your return from the church, but I rea- 


io 6 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


soned with him and he consented to go away. 
However, he means to return to-night.” 

“To-night?” 

“Yes. I promised you would meet him in 
the garden after nightfall and give him an op- 
portunity of conversing with you alone.” 

Louise trembled and turned pale with appre- 
hension. 

“Oh, Hortense,” she gasped, “if he should 
meet my husband there !” 

“It would mean a prison cell for your broth- 
er, misery for your husband, and despair for 
you,” was the solemn reply. Then in insinu- 
ating tones the governess added, “Madame, 
will you be advised by me ?” 

“Yes, Hortense,” replied Louise helplessly, 
“for I believe you to be my true and faithful 
friend.” 

“None truer; so attend to what I say. Your 
husband has never met your brother. There- 
fore, if by any chance they should meet to- 
night, introduce your brother as an old friend 
of yours. Will you consent to this?” 

“Yes; for it will be the only way to save 
him,” replied the trusting girl. 


CHAPTER XI 


AFFAIRS APPERTAINING TO THE HEART 

That same afternoon M. Moulinet and his 
nephew were walking together in the garden, 
when the old gentleman chanced to spy Vivette 
in a cluster of rosebushes, gathering a bouquet. 

‘'Hector,” said he, pointing to the girl, “now 
is your chance to win her. Don’t let it slip 
away from you ; but embrace it while Cupid is 
in the neighborhood.” 

And with that he turned abruptly on his heel 
and walked away. He had not gone far, how- 
ever, when he retraced his steps and concealed 
himself in a thicket from which he could see 
and hear everything. 

Hector approached Vivette timidly and stam- 
mered : 

“Vivette, w-won’t you sit down and talk 
with me awhile?” 

She turned to him with a mischievous smile. 

“Why, with pleasure, Hector.” 


io8 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


And she sank down gracefully upon the 
grass. 

“I meant the bench,” he said, pointing to a 
rustic seat nearby. 

“Then why didn’t you conduct me to it?” 
she asked, rising. “Hector, some day you may 
be a great gentleman and have to mingle with 
the greater ones at court, so I am going to give 
you a lesson in court etiquette.” 

“You are very kind, I’m sure.” 

“Now stand just where you are,” she con- 
tinued, “and imagine that you are a court lady 
and that I am a court gentleman. Now I 
shall ask you to be seated, and you must make 
a low curtsy and extend your hand to me and 
say, ‘with pleasure, your Grace.’ Now, are you 
ready ?” 

“Yes.” 

Whereupon she approached him with minc- 
ing steps, and, making him a gallant bow, asked 
in a deep voice: 

“Mademoiselle, may I offer you a seat?” 

To humor her he made an attempt at a 
curtsy ; but his effort was so awkward that she 
broke into a merry laugh at his expense. This 
was but a poor beginning for the declaration of 
his love, and it angered him. 

“It’s no use, Vivette!” he exclaimed, frown- 
ing. “I don’t care to be a great gentleman if I 
must behave like that. Vivette,” he continued 
pleadingly, “why can’t you be serious ? I want 
to say something to you of very great import- 
ance this afternoon.” 


AFFAIRS APPERTAINING TO THE HEART IO9 

Her eyes twinkled roguishly. 

“Then why don’t you begin ?” she asked. 

“I can’t when you look at me like that,” he 
answered. 

“O, if it’s anything you’re ashamed of, I 
don’t want to hear it.” And she turned from 
him with a disdainful toss of her shapely head. 

“But I’m not ashamed of it,” he protested. 

“Then why don’t you speak?” 

“Because — because I dare not.” 

“You dare not!” she echoed contemptuously. 
Then turning upon him suddenly, “Hector 
Moulinet,” she added frankly, “I know what 
you dare not say. If you had the courage you 
wculd address me thus: ‘Mademoiselle Vi- 
vette, I love you. I shall some day inherit my 
uncle’s immense fortune, and then I shall lay 
that, and the devotion of my heart, at your feet. 
Will you be my wife, Vivette?’ ” 

Her audacity filled him with amazement. 

“That’s it,” he stammered confusedly. “I — 
I — don’t know that I shall inherit my uncle’s 
fortune ; but I’d like to marry you all the same. 
What do you say, Vivette ?” 

She blushed crimson with vexation at his 
bashfulness. 

“What do I say?” she cried. “No, a thou- 
sand times no !” Then with a mocking laugh, 
“There’s the goldsmith’s daughter Terese. Go 
and practice upon her, and when you’ve learned 
to make love like a gentleman, come back and I 
may consider your proposal. I dismiss you 
from my presence, Monsieur Moulinet.” 


no 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


Hector turned from her with a heavy heart 
and began walking slowly in the direction of 
the chateau; but he had not taken many steps 
when his uncle emerged suddenly from his hid- 
ing place and called after him : 

“Where are you going, Hector ?” 

“Home,” was the sorrowful reply. 

“Then we’ll go together,” said M. Moulinet, 
casting a malicious look at Vivette. Then rais- 
ing his voice so that every word he uttered 
could be distinctly heard by the capricious girl, 
he added : 

“I intend to call on my good friend the gold- 
smith this evening, and as my business with 
him concerns you and his charming daughter 
Terese, I think it best you should accompany 
me.” 

At this artful thrust Vivette’s countenance 
fell, observing which the notary continued 
glibly : 

“Ah, Hector, my boy, I’ve great things in 
store for you. The goldsmith is getting old; 
his daughter is his only heir. When I drew up 
his will last week we discussed the advantage 
of our estates being one day joined. You and 
the goldsmith’s daughter will make a handsome 
couple, Hector, and you know my fortune is 
yours the day you take a wife. Come along. 
You shall see Mademoiselle Terese to-night. 
What a union, and what a fortune — six mil- 
lion francs and it’s all to be yours !” 


AFFAIRS APPERTAINING TO THE HEART III 


With these words M. Moulinet took his 
nephew by the arm and led him in triumph 
from the scene of his humiliation. 

Vivette looked after them ruefully until they 
had disappeared around a turn in the path, and 
then bowed her head and sighed. Then she 
laughed hysterically, sighed again and finally 
broke out impatiently: 

“Men are such idiots !” 

“What is the matter, Vivette ?” asked a 
kindly voice at her elbow. 

She turned her head quickly and beheld Cap- 
tain de Montville standing at her side, regard- 
ing her with a look of deep interest. 

“The matter?” she answered. “Nothing 
much, only Hector Moulinet had the insolence 
to propose to me just now, and I refused him.” 

“Refused him ! Why ?” 

“O, he is so bashful, so stupid.” 

“No, he is not stupid, Vivette,” said De 
Montville gravely. “He is bright, energetic, 
manly. Not bashful either, except in your 
presence. Then his great love for you renders 
him nervous and ill at ease. Words fail him 
and he can only stand in awkward contempla- 
tion of your charms.” 

She shrugged her shoulders impatiently. 

“I know,” she said, “you mean to lecture 
me about coquetry and trifling; but I don’t 
want to hear you, monsieur. I am sure our 
faults are not so interesting that we should wish 
every one to remind us of them.” 


1 12 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“How much better it would be to root them 
up altogether/’ he responded. “Besides, there is 
no room for rubbish in the human heart. And 
what a sad thing it would be if Love came 
knocking at the door and Coquetry should peep 
out of the window and say, “Rooms are all oc- 
cupied now, you must call again.’ ” 

“I think that would be fun.” 

“Fun? Yes, it would be fun for Coquetry to 
see Love turn away with faltering step and 
moist eye. She would say to herself, ‘He will 
come back.’ But day after day passes by and 
Love does not return. With eager longing she 
waits for one who never comes, and learns, too 
late, that he no longer cares for her.” 

“Oh, don’t, don’t!” cried Vivette. 

And she burst into a fit of hysterical weep- 
ing. 

“There, there; don’t cry, child,” said De 
Montville, stroking her hair with a touch as 
gentle as a woman’s. “Things have not come 
to that pass yet, I trust. Tell me, do you love 
Hector?”' 

“Yes,” she sobbed. “I wanted him to propose 
to me; but he — he was so — bashful. And a 
girl likes to be made a little love to before she 
says yes. And — yes — is all — a girl is allowed 
to say, nowadays.” 

“That is true. Well, let me see. Perhaps if 
you were to be real serious and turn your ears 
to him instead of your eyes, that seem to render 
him speechless, he might surprise you. Try it 
next time.” 


AFFAIRS APPERTAINING TO THE HEART 113 

“But there may never be — a next time,” she 
returned with a fresh outburst of grief. “He 
has gone — with his — uncle to call on the gold- 
smith. And — oh, Guilbert ! what if he 
should — ” 

“Should what?” he inquired gently. 

“Do what I told him.” 

“What did you tell him ?” 

“To go to Terese and practice on her, and 
when he had learned how to make love to 
come back to me. What if he should never 
come back? What if she shQuld accept him?” 

“Then,” said De Montville gravely, “there 
would be three fair young lives blighted.” 

“And it would be all my fault!” she cried. 
“Oh, dear; oh, dear!” 

“Vivette,” he continued, “all that you fear 
might easily happen ; but I don’t believe it wilt 
Hector will come back to you as surely as light 
to-day.” 

Her face brightened in an instant. 

“Do you really think so?” she inquired 
eagerly. 

“Yes; wait and hope.” 

In the evening, after supper, De Montville 
and his young bride were standing at a window 
in the sitting room, gazing wistfully at the sky, 
where hung the silver crescent of the virgin 
moon in a horizon flushed with the roseate hues 
of the departing day. 

“See, Guilbert,” murmured Louise in tones of 
rapture, “our honeymoon is smiling down 
upon us.” 


1 14 a SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“And are you happy, love ?" he whispered. 

“Never so happy as to-night." 

He gazed at her with a look of passionate 
fondness, and sighed. 

“Why do you sigh, dear?" she asked. 

“Louise," he answered gravely, “I have 
something very serious to say to you. I am 
once again an able-bodied man, and — well, you 
know, I am a soldier." 

“Guilbert," she cried in alarm, “surely you 
would not leave me now !" 

“No, not now, love," he replied. “But I owe 
allegiance to Napoleon, and duty demands that 
I should inform him of my recovery. He is 
preparing for a campaign against the allies 
and will surely require my services. But, my 
love, we can enjoy a week of happiness together 
before his orders can reach me." 

“Ah !" she cried, “let us not think of it now, 
Guilbert. I want no shadow over our happi- 
ness to-night." 

“I would not have spoken of it at all," he 
answered, “but that one of my Hussars starts 
for Paris in the morning, bearing the letter con- 
taining the news of my recovery to Napoleon. 
So, my dear, we must postpone going to my 
home in Dauphiny and pass our short honey- 
moon here." 

“Oh, Guilbert !" she cried. 

He took her in his arms and kissed her ten- 
derly. 


AFFAIRS APPERTAINING TO THE HEART H5 

“Be brave, little wife” he murmured. “You 
could not love a man who would not respond to 
the call of duty. The campaign will probably 
be a short one, and then I will return to you 
covered with honors and glory. Am I not doing 
right ?” 

“Yes,” she replied submissively, “you must 
go. 

At that moment Hortense entered the room, 
and approaching the window where they stood, 
said apologetically : 

“Pardon me for interrupting your tete-a-tete ; 
I have something of importance to say to you, 
madame, if your husband can spare you for a 
while.” 

“Well, do not keep her long,” said De Mont- 
ville gayly; ‘Tor the seconds seem like hours 
when we are apart.” 

“Never fear; I will return soon,” murmured 
Louise fondly. 

And wafting a kiss to him from her dainty 
finger tips, she followed the governess into the 
hall. 

“Madame,” said Hortense when they were 
alone, “it is fast growing dark and your brother 
will soon be in the garden to keep his appoint- 
ment with you. Be advised by me. Go there 
now and await his coming, for if you delay 
another opportunity may not occur.” 

“God bless you, Hortense ; I will go at once.” 

Saying which, Louise hurried off to her bed 
room to fetch her shawl and bonnet. 


II 6 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

Hortense loitered in the hall until she return- 
ed ; saw her leave the chateau by the door com- 
municating with the garden ; then went back to 
the sitting room to lure De Montville into the 
trap she had set for him. 


CHAPTER XII 

HUSBAND AND BROTHER 

When Louise reached the garden the twilight 
was fast deepening into night. She sought out 
a secluded path and walked restlessly to and 
fro, vainly endeavoring to nerve herself for the 
approaching interview with her brother. 

What would he say to her ? What would he 
do? 

He had never spoken unkindly to her in his 
life, nor had he ever crossed her will. Would 
he upbraid her cruelly now? Would he en- 
deavor to separate her from her husband? 
While her mind was busy with these questions 
the darkness gradually deepened. One by one 
the stars peeped forth, the shadows increased in 
intensity and the hush of night descended on 
the sleeping world. 

Suddenly she saw a man approaching 
through the gloom, and as he drew nearer she 
knew by his haughty carriage that he was her 


Il8 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

brother. At first sight of him she trembled 
violently; then all her fears were forgotten in 
the joy of seeing him. 

“Eugene, my dear Eugene!” she cried, and 
rushed forward to clasp him in her arms. 

But he repulsed her coldly, saying : 

“Do not act a lie, Louise ; do not pretend that 
you are glad to see me here.” 

“Pretend?” she gasped bewilderedly. 

“Aye. Do you know what brought me 
home?” 

“I hope love for me, my dear Eugene.” 

“You are right. It was love for you. A 
love that is solicitous not only for your present 
but for your future happiness as well.” 

“Ah, I knew it; I knew it!” 

“You knew it, and yet you have grieved me 
to the heart’s core. Louise, I returned home, 
hoping to prevent your mad union with an 
enemy to our King. But I have learned that I 
arrived too late. Ah, why did you take advan- 
tage of my exile to wed this adventurer?” 

“Eugene,” said Louise proudly, “upbraid me 
if you will ; but I will not permit you to slander 
my noble husband. He is not an adventurer. He 
is a gallant, chivalrous soldier, and would be 
as loyal to the King as he is to Napoleon were 
it for the good of France.” 

The Count laughed disdainfully. 

“What,” he cried in tones of bitter scorn, 
“are you, too, becoming a Bonapartist, ma- 
dame?” 


HUSBAND AND BROTHER II9 

“I am the wife of one, ,, she answered with a 
touch of defiance in her tone. And she added 
in milder accents : “Eugene, you do not know 
my husband or you would love him as deeply 
as I do. He is all gentleness, courtesy and cour- 
age, and the very soul of honor. It is true he 
is an Imperialist ; but it is from conviction, not 
self-interest. Won’t you open your heart to 
him, dear brother, if only for my sake ?” 

“Louise,” returned the Count, deeply moved 
by her eloquent pleading, “it was my inten- 
tion to make Captain de Montville answer to 
me on the field of honor for marrying into my 
family without my consent; but if he proves 
the man you represent him, I will overlook our 
political differences and try to regard him as 
the husband of the sister I so dearly love.” 

At this she flung her arms around his neck 
and kissed him again and again, crying: 

“Dear Eugene! Good Eugene! You have 
made me happier than words can express.” 

Now it happened that while she was in the 
very act of caressing her brother and he was 
caressing her affectionately in return, her hus- 
band, who had been led into the garden by 
Hortense with the design of surprising them 
in some fond scene, was peering out of an arbor 
nearby, an amazed spectator of the episode. 
His wife kissing another man on the very night 
of their wedding ! Surely here was a situation 
that demanded an immediate explanation. So 


120 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


he left the arbor excitedly and hurried to his 
wife’s side. 

She saw him coming, and remembering the 
advice Hortense had given her, whispered 
quickly to the Count : 

“Eugene, here comes my husband. Napo- 
leon has commissioned him to arrest you, and 
he will perform his duty, even though you are 
his wife’s brother. So you must pose as my 
friend, and consent to bear an assumed name. 
Don’t refuse, for your sister’s happiness and 
your own freedom are at stake.” 

Before he could reply De Montville was close 
upon them. 

Louise turned to him with a smile of wel- 
come. 

“O, Guilbert,” she cried, “I am so glad you 
have come. I wish to introduce you to an old 
friend of mine.” 

De Montville was visibly shocked. 

“An old friend ?” he asked, making a su- 
preme effort to control himself. 

“Yes. We were school children together and 
have not seen each other before for several 
years. Monsieur d’Almar, this gentleman is 
my husband, Captain de Montville.” 

“I am pleased to meet you, monsieur,” said 
the Count with the utmost civility. 

But De Montville merely bowed and remain- 
ed silent. 

“Come, gentlemen,” said Louise gayly, “let 
us return to the chateau.” 


HUSBAND AND BROTHER 


12 1 


And she started in the direction of the house. 

The Count followed, but De Montville re- 
mained rooted where he stood. 

“What, Guilbert, are 3rou not coming with 
us ?” asked his wife. 

“No,” he replied bitterly; “go with — your 
friend .” 

“But you will join us soon?” 

“I will come to you — by and by.” 

Louise detected the suppressed agony in his 
voice, and attributing his suffering to the fact 
that he had discovered the identity of her bro- 
ther and was confronted with the terrible ne- 
cessity of arresting him, hurried the Count off 
to the chateau, intending to urge him to escape 
at once. 

Long after they had left the garden, De 
Montville remained motionless in his tracks like 
one under the spell of a horrible nightmare. At 
last he awoke from his trance with a start. 

“What does it all mean?” he cried bewilder- 
edly. “An old friend, she said. School chil- 
dren together. Bah! They were lovers. Yes, 
yes, she loved this man — loves him still — else 
she would not have permitted his embrace; 
would not have returned his kiss. Oh, God in 
heaven!” he exclaimed in a frenzy, “what a 
blind, blind dupe Lve been ! Fool, fool ! to have 
again pinned my faith upon a woman.” 

While he was giving vent to these passionate 
exclamations, Hortense de Graysant emerged 


122 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


from a thicket where she had been in hiding, 
and crept noiselessly to his side. 

“Monsieur de Montville,” she said, “you 
have no right to condemn our entire sex for the 
frailty of one woman/’ 

He turned upon her fiercely. 

“And it is you, Madame de Graysant, that 
would become the champion of unfaithful 
wives?” he cried. 

“Stop, Guilbert! Stop!” she replied. “Not 
another word of censure, lest you live to regret 
it.” 

“Regret?” he sneered bitterly. “No, no; the 
only regret I shall ever feel will be that I was 
fool enough to be caught the second time in a 
woman’s toils. As the lover of Hortense, I 
could laugh at my folly ; but as the husband of 
Louise I have a husband’s honor to defend. 
And yet,” he added with a scornful laugh, “she 
is no worse than the rest of her charming sex. 
I have only myself to blame for having placed 
her upon too high a pedestal ; for presuming to 
dream that the angels were not all recalled from 
earth ; that love was not a monster born of pas- 
sion — a snare to catch men’s souls !” 

“You have misjudged her,” said the wily 
governess. 

“Misjudged! Who, Louise? Not so. I 
tell you I saw her rush into his arms. I saw 
her entwine her arms around his neck and kiss 
him. Is it thus a new-made bride should greet 
the friend of her school days? Misjudge her? 


HUSBAND AND BROTHER 1 23 

Bah! you women have strange notions of a 
wife’s duty.” 

“Oh, Guilbert!” cried Hortense, in tones of 
affected sympathy; “how unfortunate it was 
that you should have seen her meet this 
friend!” And she insinuated maliciously, “I 
never knew she had a lover — except Major Du- 
rant.” 

Her words rendered him mad with jealousy. 
“Durant?” he exclaimed wildly. “No more, 
Hortense! Not a word more! Leave me, I 
implore you ! I would be alone, alone.” 

“I dare not leave you in this mood,” she 
said. 

“Then I will leave you.” 

And turning from her, he started with rapid 
strides toward the village. 

She ran after him and stopped him, crying, 
“Guilbert, where are you going?” 

“Ah, what does it matter where?” was his 
despairing reply. “I desire only to flee from 
this house which holds all there is of heaven 
and hell for me !” 

“But if you leave, Guilbert, what excuse 
shall I make for you to Louise?” 

At this he broke into a terrible laugh. 

“And is it necessary to make excuses to 
her?” he said. “Tell her what you will. Say 
that I have gone to the notary’s for the night 
and that to-morrow I return to Napoleon’s 
army.” 

With these words he left her. 


124 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

It was his intention to depart from Vere at 
once, but ere he had gone a hundred paces from 
the garden he was seized with an irresistible de- 
sire to steal back to the chateau and conceal 
himself underneath his wife’s window with the 
hope of obtaining one last glimpse of Louise 
before he fled from her forever. Accordingly 
he retraced his steps and hid in a clump of 
bushes that commanded a full view of her 
room. 

He observed that the window was wide open 
to admit the summer air. A lamp, with a red 
shade, burned upon the table, casting a ruddy 
glow upon the dainty furniture and draperies 
and lending to the apartment a warm and com- 
fortable air. He remembered that this room 
was to have been his bridal chamber, and 
groaned in anguish. 

While the wretched man was gazing into this 
lost paradise, the door of the apartment opened 
and his wife entered, accompanied by the stran- 
ger she had introduced to him in the garden as 
the friend of her school-girl days, Monsieur 
d’Almar. 

Could it be possible that the beautiful crea- 
ture — whose face, as he gazed upon it now, 
seemed the very presentment of purity and in- 
nocence — could it be possible that she was so 
utterly devoid of refinement as to introduce her 
lover into this sanctuary? 

What a sacrilege ! 


HUSBAND AND BROTHER 


!25 


De Montville pressed his hands upon his 
heart and gasped. Then he bent forward ea- 
gerly to watch and listen. 

Louise closed the door, and approaching the 
stranger with an anxious, frightened look, 
placed her little hands upon his shoulders and 
gazed up into his face with an expression of 
the deepest affection. Then De Montville heard 
her speak to him, earnestly, pleadingly, as fol- 
lows : 

“My husband suspects you. I could tell ft 
by his face. He knows that you are something 
far dearer to me than a mere friend, and you 
two must not meet again. Leave this house at 
once! Will you promise to do this, dearest ?” 

“Yes, Louise, for your sake I promise,” said 
the stranger. 

“Good-by, and God bless you ! It breaks my 
heart to send you away from me like this, but 
it can’t be helped. Go by the rear door. Good- 
by!” 

The miserable husband saw her throw her 
arms around the stranger’s neck and kiss him 
fondly; and his heart was torn with jealousy 
and his brain was maddened by the sight. Leav- 
ing his hiding place, he darted quickly to the 
back door of the chateau and awaited the stran- 
ger’s coming. 

A minute passed by — a minute of intolerable 
suspense to him. 

Then he heard footsteps approaching the 
door, accompanied by the sound of muffled 
voices. 


12 6 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


.The knob turned, and he drew a dagger from 
his waistband. 

The door opened, and he raised its glittering 
blade aloft. 

Then, as the stranger stepped forth into the 
night, he flung himself furiously upon him and 
seized him by the throat, crying : 

“This time you shall not escape me !” 

He was about to stab his victim to the heart 
when Louise threw her arms around him. 

“Hold, Guilbert !” she exclaimed, “or I shall 
hate you.” 

Before he could free himself from her fren- 
zied embrace his brain reeled, everything grew 
black around him, and he sank down upon the 
ground in a swoon. 


CHAPTER XIII 


A LETTER FROM DE MONTVILLE 

The next morning Louise was reclining in 
an armchair in the sitting room, gazing discon- 
solately out of the window, when Madame Gi- 
rard entered the apartment. 

“Good morning, Louise !” she began, sinking 
into a chair opposite her niece. 

“Good morning, Aunt Mathilde !” responded 
the girl sadly. 

“Do you feel better this morning, dear?” 

The girl shook her head sorrowfully and 
sighed. 

“No,” she said ; “I did not sleep a wink. Ah, 
such a night as I have passed !” 

“I do not wonder,” said her aunt in tones of 
sympathy. “Eugene has just told me of last 
night's affair, and I can hardly realize that a 
man as gentle as your husband could be so mur- 
derous.” 

“Murderous ? Ah, no ! He was not to blame. 
He did not know that Eugene was my brother. 


128 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


He believed him to be my lover. He thought I 
was false to him. Oh, if he had killed Eugene ! 
All night long I have striven to forget that aw- 
ful moment — Guilbert’s dagger uplifted to 
strike ; Eugene powerless in his grasp. During 
the long watches of the night I have seen Eu- 
gene slain a thousand times in imagination, and 
each time I have started from the awful vision 
with an agonized cry. Oh, Aunt Mathilde! how 
will it all end ?” 

And the unhappy girl bowed her head be- 
tween her hands and sobbed hysterically. 

Believing it best to leave her until she had re- 
covered her composure, Madame Girard arose 
and quietly retired from the room. 

In the hall she encountered M. Moulinet, 
who accosted her with a sweeping bow. 

“Pardon my calling so early/’ he said; “I 
thought my presence might be needed here. 
What has happened ?” 

“Almost a tragedy,” replied Madame Girard 
excitedly. 

“Eugene returned last night.” 

“And did Captain de Montville see him?” 

“Yes.” 

“And place him under arrest ?” 

“No; but it could not have made matters 
worse if he had. Oh, Monsieur Moulinet,” ex- 
claimed the old lady, wringing her hands, “it 
was terrible, terrible !” 

“Bless me, madame !” returned the notary in 
amazement. “What can you possibly mean?” 


A LETTER FROM DE MONTVILLE 1 29 


‘‘Louise tried to conceal her brother’s identity 
from her husband to save him from arrest, and 
introduced Eugene to the Captain as an old 
friend.” 

“Well?” 

“The Captain chanced to see Louise in Eu- 
gene’s arms as he was kissing her good-bye. He 
became wildly jealous and tried to kill him.” 

“Hum !” said M. Moulinet, stroking his chin 
reflectively. “Too bad, too bad!” And he add- 
ed, “that explains the cause of Monsieur de 
Montville’s relapse.” 

“Relapse ?” cried Madame Girard in surprise. 

“Yes. Let me explain. Last night Captain 
De Montville came to my house in a state of 
great mental excitement. He was bleeding pro- 
fusely, and upon examination I discovered that 
his old wound had broken out afresh. I put 
him to bed and sent post-haste for a doctor. At 
one time there were grave fears of his bleeding 
to death. However, we at last checked the flow 
of blood and bound up his wound. Although 
greatly weakened, he walked the floor all night, 
muttering incoherently to himself. He was 
calmer this morning, but refused to explain 
how it happened that he passed the night of his 
wedding away from his bride. So I came over 
here to find out.” 

At this juncture Hector Moulinet entered the 
hall, and approaching Madame Girard handed 
her a sealed note with the words : 


130 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“I am the bearer of a message from Captain 
de Montville to his wife. Will you kindly de- 
liver it to her, madame?” 

Before Madame Girard could reply, Louise 
emerged from the sitting room, and gliding 
swiftly toward her aunt, snatched the missive 
from her trembling hand, crying excitedly : 

“A letter from my husband ? Ah, what can 
he have to say to me ?” 

Then she broke open the note and scanned 
its contents eagerly. It ran as follows : 

“Madame : 

“I leave V ere this morning to join the army 
of Napoleon and seek an honorable death upon 
the field of battle. If you have any message to 
send me before I go, deliver it to my messen- 
ger.. Guilbert de Montville." 

On reading these cold and formal words, 
Louise pressed her hand to her heart and ut- 
tered a sharp cry of pain. 

“My darling child, what is it?” exclaimed 
her aunt, hastening to her side. 

“Read, read!” gasped the heartbroken girl. 

Madame Girard took the note, read it first to 
herself and then aloud to the others, and finally 
turning to her niece, inquired anxiously : 

“Louise, dear, what are you going to do ?” 

“Ah, what can I do?” sobbed Louise. “If 
I only dared tell him it was my brother he saw 
last night !” 


A LETTER FROM DE MONTVILLE 131 

“And why not tell him?” returned her aunt. 
“He will then believe in you and love you all 
the more for what you have done.” 

“But he would arrest Eugene.” 

“I don’t believe it. If he did he would be 
heartless, ungrateful.” 

“No, no, Aunt Mathilde ! It would break his 
heart, but he would do his duty. Ah, you do 
not know these soldiers of the Empire !” 

Madame Girard tossed her head scornfully. 

“Then all you can do,” she said, “is to let 
him go back to his Emperor.” 

At this Louise wrung her hands in despair. 

“Let him go back?” she cried. “Never! I 
love him, and he believes me false. Oh, if Eu- 
gene would only go !” 

“And will he not?” 

“He must, Aunt Mathilde ! He must !” And 
she added, “I will go to him at once.” 

With these words, Louise turned toward the 
stairs to mount to her brother’s apartments, 
when she encountered him descending them. 

“O, Eugene!” she exclaimed imploringly, 
“why won’t you listen to reason ? Why do you 
linger here ?” 

“Is it such a matter of surprise,” he returned, 
“that I should linger in my own house?” 

And passing down into the hall he wished the 
party that had assembled there a pleasant good- 
morning. 

“My friend,” began M. Moulinet anxiously, 
“in consideration of the danger you are in I 
should have thought — ” 


I 3 2 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


But the Count interrupted him. 

“That I should have returned to exile?” he 
asked good-naturedly. 

“Better that, monsieur, than a prison,” said 
the notary. “If you will not consider yourself, 
you should at least think of your sister.” 

The Count smiled approvingly. 

“I agree with you,” he said. “It is my duty 
to restore her to the man she loves. He be- 
lieves me to be her lover. His mind shall be 
disabused of so vile a suspicion. He shall know 
that I am her brother and have as good a right 
as he to press her lips. So I will go to him at 
once and declare my identity.” 

“Are you mad, monsieur?” cried M. Mouli- 
net. 

“It is a brother’s duty to defend the honor 
of his sister,” replied the Count. 

And taking his hat from the hall stand, he 
started toward the door. 

“Eugene,” cried Louise, laying a detaining 
hand upon his shoulder, “would you break my 
heart ?” 

He turned to her with a look of deep affec- 
tion. 

“What would you have me do ?” he asked. 

“Leave this place at once. Go to Brussels, 
where the English and Prussian armies are sta- 
tioned. There you will be safe. Then I can 
speak to Guilbert and disabuse his mind. When 
I tell him it was to save my brother from arrest 
that I deceived him, he will believe me. He will 


A LETTER FROM DE MONTVILLE I33 

understand and love me once more. Don’t you 
see, Eugene, it is the only way ?” 

Touched by her eloquent pleading, the Count 
kissed her fondly and answered : 

“You are right, Louise ; I’ll go. It would be 
selfish for me to endanger your happiness by re- 
maining here another hour.” Then, addressing 
himself to the notary, “M. Moulinet,” he said, 
“the horse I rode hither is foundered ; can you 
furnish me with a fresh one ?” 

“Gladly,” was the reply; “but you will not 
find it so easy to go as you did to come.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because during the night General Grouchy 
arrived in this vicinity with a division of Napo- 
leon’s army. His troops lie just beyond the vil- 
lage. It is supposed he is marching to the fron- 
tier to join the Emperor. You cannot possibly 
pass through his lines without a passport.” 

The Count turned to his sister. 

“It is fate, Louise,” he said. “What shall 
I do?” 

“Permit me to answer that question,” said 
the notary. “I will go at once and procure you 
the necessary passports, while Hector proceeds 
to my stable to fetch the horse. When the ani- 
mal arrives, mount immediately and ride to the 
San Quentin bridge, where I will be awaiting 
you with the papers.” 

With these words he bowed low to the la- 
dies, and beckoning his nephew to follow him, 
darted abruptly off upon his errand. 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


J 34 


“Eugene,” said Madame Girard when he had 
departed, “what does that dear old stupid 
mean ?” 

“He means to imperil his liberty to save me !” 

“He is helping you to escape ?” 

“Exactly.” . 

Madame Girard shook her head reflectively 
and smiled. 

“Well,” she said in gentle accents, “if he suc- 
ceeds in doing that, Eugene, he shall not go 
unrewarded.” 

“But if he fails?” 

“In that case,” she returned with a signifi- 
cant smile, “I may take the intent for the deed.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


A CHALLENGE 

In the meantime, how fared it with Guilbert 
de Montville? 

Having dispatched Hector to the chateau 
with his farewell letter to Louise, he anxiously 
awaited the return of his messenger with her 
answer. An hour passed by ; but Hector did not 
come back. It was but a short distance from 
M. Moulinet's residence to the Count's abode, 
and he began to fear that his wife intended to 
ignore him. This thought filled his tortured 
soul with anguish, and he wandered from 
chamber to chamber of the notary's great house 
like one bereft of reason. 

He was on the point of abandoning all hope 
of a reply and starting for Napoleon’s camp in 
despair, when a lackey arrived from the chateau 
and handed him a sealed package, remarking 
that Madame de Montville had instructed him 
to deliver it to no one but her husband. When 


136 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

he was alone he opened it with trembling 
fingers and read the following : 

“Dearest Husband : 

“If you still love me, come to me to-night , 
hut do not come before. 

“Your Heart-Broken Louise/' 

The first reading of this fond message filled 
him with delight ; but, on a second perusal, a 
terrible doubt took possession of him. Why 
did she wish to postpone seeing him until night' 
fall? Could it be possible that she had some- 
thing further to conceal from him? That she 
intended to keep her former lover with her 
until evening ? The idea was far more than he 
could bear, and he determined to hasten to 
Louise and demand an immediate explanation. 

On arriving at the chateau he found the front 
door open, and stalked gloomily into the hall 
unannounced. It happened that at that mo- 
ment Louise was in the sitting room with her 
brother, awaiting the return of Hector Mouli- 
net with the horse. She heard his heavy foot- 
falls on the tiling, recognized them as her hus- 
band's, and seizing the Count by the arm 
dragged him behind the curtains of a window, 
whispering in tones tremulous with terror : 

“Quick, Eugene! My husband is coming. 
Behind these curtains, quick !” 

The next instant she was standing in the 
doorway, pale and all a-tremble, ready to re- 
ceive the man she loved, yet feared. 


A CHALLENGE 1 37 

As he approached she held out her arms to 
him imploringly, crying: 

“Ah, Guilbert, why did you come here this 
morning ?” 

“Am I unwelcome ?” he inquired reproach- 
fully. 

“No; but surely you must have received the * 
note I sent you.” 

“Yes, I have it with me now,” he said. 
“What did you mean by asking me not to come 
here before to-night? Is there something fur- 
ther you would conceal from me?” 

While speaking he brushed past her into the 
sitting room and took a seat near the curtains 
behind which her brother was concealed. 

Fearing that Eugene would be discovered if 
her husband remained long in the room, Louise 
approached the latter, and laying her hand 
gently upon his shoulder, answered anxiously: 

“No, no, dear Guilbert; I have nothing to 
conceal from you. Go, now, and show your 
faith in me. I will explain all to-night.” 

He replied to this doggedly: 

“I demand an explanation now.” 

“Ah, cannot you wait until to-night?” she 
asked. 

“No,” he replied in tones of inflexible resolu- 
tion ; then searching her face with a penetrating 
glance, “Louise,” he inquired, "what is this 
mystery? If you can vindicate yourself, I ab- 
jure you, by the value you place upon my love, 
to speak now !” 


138 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

At this she fell upon her knees at his feet and, 
raising her clasped hands beseechingly, cried 
out in anguish : 

“Oh, my husband! you know I love you. 
Surely you can wait until to-night” 

“Impossible!” he replied. “I leave for my 
regiment this morning. I came here to say 
farewell to you. I go to meet a soldier’s death.” 

“Ah, no, no, no !” she exclaimed wildly. And 
bowing her head upon his knees, she burst into 
a fit of passionate weeping. 

That her grief affected him profoundly was 
apparent by the strange tremulousness in his 
voice as he continued : 

“At least I shall never see you again. But I 
have provided for your future. My estates in 
Dauphiny I have made over to you, my wife. 
When I have departed you can communicate 
with my attorney in Paris, whose address I will 
leave you. This likeness,” he went on, drawing 
a miniature from his bosom and gazing upon it 
tenderly, “this fair presentment of yourself, 
which you gave me on the day that love tri- 
umphed over death, and which I have since 
worn next to my heart — its dearest treasure — 
I should like to keep.” 

“Then you still love me !” she cried, raising 
her head and looking up eagerly into his face. 

He stooped and kissed her tenderly upon the 
forehead. 

“Love you, Louise?” he replied. “Always, 
always !” 


A CHALLENGE 1 39 

At that moment Hector Moulinet thrust his 
head in at the door, crying : 

“The horse is ready for monsieur !” 

If a thunderbolt had fallen into the room it 
could not have produced greater consternation 
than this simple announcement. 

Louise sprang to her feet, gasping with ter- 
ror and confusion ; Hector, seeing her husband 
and realizing the blunder he had made, dropped 
his eyes upon the floor and trembled guiltily; 
while De Montville sank back in his chair and 
glanced first at one, and then at the other, with 
an expression of suspicion and wrath. Sud- 
denly he arose to his feet, and turning to Hec- 
tor asked sternly : 

“Whose horse, monsieur ?” 

Instead of replying the youth fled panic- 
stricken from the house. 

De Montville now addressed his wife : 

“Whose horse, madame?” he demanded im- 
periously. “Whose horse?” 

There ensued a moment of profound silence. 
Then the curtains behind him parted and the 
Count de Vere stepped forth from his hiding- 
place. 

“Mine, monsieur,” he said with a sweeping 
bow. 

De Montville turned upon him fiercely. 

“Yours ?” he cried. Then he sprang forward, 
and striking the Count savagely upon the 
cheek with his open palm, “Perhaps Monsieur 
d’Almar will delay his departure for an hour,” 
he added with a derisive laugh. 


I40 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

In an instant Louise had seized him by the 
arm. 

“Guilbert !” she exclaimed in an agony of 
fear, “what would you do ?” 

“Avenge my honor,” was the grim answer. 

“No, no ; I tell you I love you. Let this man 
depart unharmed. You will understand all to- 
night.” 

But he was in no mood to listen to her en- 
treaties. He freed his arm roughly from her 
grasp, and turning upon her a look of wither- 
ing scorn — 

“You pretend love for me ” he said, “while 
it is for this man you tremble. And well you 
may, for I intend to kill him. Do you under- 
stand? — to kill him!” 

“Monsieur de Montville!” exclaimed the 
Count protestingly. 

“Monsieur d’Almar!” sneered De Montville 
in return. 

“I understand your frenzy and excuse it,” 
said the Count calmly. “In your place I should 
probably act as you do. But permit me to sug- 
gest that there is a cruel misunderstanding 
here; that your point of view is perverted and 
your conclusions, therefore, are wrong. Some 
day you will understand and apologize for the 
blow you struck me. You are the husband of 
this fair girl ; she loves you, and for this reason, 
if for no other, we cannot fight.” 

“Monsieur d’Almar,” returned De Montville, 
“1 struck you and you decline to demand satis- 


A CHALLENGE 


I 4 I 

faction for reasons that I can construe but one 
way. If you are not a coward, it must be you 
choose to appear one to gratify the whim of the 
woman you love.” 

“Monsieur !” exclaimed the Count angrily. 

“I saw your love last night,” continued De 
Montville. “This morning gives it proof. And, 
since one woman’s image is engraved on two 
hearts, one of them must cease to beat!” 

With a supreme effort of the will the Count 
regained his composure, and assuming an atti- 
tude of the loftiest dignity — 

“Captain De Montville,” he said, “I would 
gladly accommodate you if I could. But there 
is a reason why you and I can never meet upon 
the field of honor.” 

At this De Montville cried out furiously : 

“Then I brand you as a coward 1 ” 

The veins on the Count’s forehead swelled 
and his face reddened. For an instant a dan- 
gerous light flashed from his eyes. But the next 
moment he turned to his challenger with an ex- 
pression of the utmost serenity and said : 

“I expected that. I go now, monsieur, and 
we may never meet again. But if we do — 
though it be to-morrow — I promise to give you 
entire satisfaction.” 

And sweeping him a courtly bow, he quietly 
withdrew from the room. 


CHAPTER XV 


WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN 

Left alone together, the wretched bride and 
bridegroom of a day stood motionless and 
silent, contending with unutterable thoughts. 

At last Louise broke the awful spell with a 
heartrending cry. 

“Husband !” 

De Montville awoke from his dreadful revery 
with a start. 

“Husband ! — Wife !” he exclaimed with a bit- 
ter laugh. “What right have you and I to use 
those sacred words?” 

She replied : 

“The right that became ours yesterday when 
we stood hand in hand at the altar and plighted 
our vows.” 

“It was a cruel mockery,” he sneered. “A 
game that women love to play, neither counting 
nor caring for the cost.” 

“Oh, Guilbert,” cried Louise passionately, 
“your words are killing me !” 


WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN I43 

“If words could kill,” he returned, “I would 
have died last night. But of what avail are 
reproaches? There are some articles of mine 
in the room I occupied ; may I get them ?” 

Realizing that he wished to terminate the in- 
terview, she bowed her head meekly upon her 
bosom, and murmured : 

“I will get them for you.” 

And she started toward the door. But on 
reaching the threshold she turned, and extend- 
ing her arms toward her husband in a last be- 
seeching gesture, cried out in anguish : 

“Oh, Guilbert, my heart is breaking !” 

Then with a sigh more expressive than a flood 
of tears, she left him. 

While he was brooding over the wreck of his 
bright hopes, Hortense entered from an adjoin- 
ing room, where she had been waiting and lis- 
tening, and gliding noiselessly to his side laid 
her hand gently upon his shoulder. 

“My dear Guilbert,” she said in sympathetic 
tones, “it makes me miserable to see you so un- 
happy. Let the past be the past. Monsieur 
d’Almar has gone. He probably will never 
trouble you again. Louise will forget him in 
time. Some hearts are like flowers — they re- 
quire careful cultivation. Why not turn gar- 
dener and endeavor to restore the fading color 
to your tender blossom ?” 

“Of what avail,” he answered, “is a beau- 
teous blossom that exhales a poisonous per- 
fume ?” 


144 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“You are bitter, monsieur.” 

“Bitter? And if I am bitter, who has made 
me so ? Who but you, Hortense, who first won 
my heart and betrayed its trust ? Who but this 
other fair daughter of Eve, who has completed 
its ruin ? Ah, I have lived too long since I have 
come to know that man’s heritage is faithless- 
ness !” 

His scorn of her sex filled Hortense with a 
wild hope. If she could only prove to him that 
there was at least one woman in the world 
who had always loved him; who, even though 
she had discarded him for another, had remain- 
ed true to him in her heart through it all, she 
might win him yet. 

“Guilbert,” she murmured in soft, insinuat- 
ing tones, “I hardly know how to express my- 
self. You have suffered deeply. Well, so have 
I. We loved one another in the dear old days ; 
but I was foolish, ambitious; the Princess de 
Graysant was a tempting title, and I yielded. 
Well, I was punished,” she continued, with a 
deep sigh. “You see in me to-day a changed 
woman. I should have regained your love if 
this mere slip of a girl had not come between 
us with her coquetry. She has captivated the 
hearts of every man in the village — Durant — 
d’Almar, — and when you came she tried her 
cunning arts on you, and behold the result! — 
you, too, are punished. Come, Guilbert,” she 
added in tones of passionate fondness, “let us 
forget the mistakes of the past. If ever two 
mortals were me^nt for one another — ” 


WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN I45 

He interrupted her sternly. 

“Stop, stop, Madame de Graysant !” he cried. 
“That page of our lives has been turned over 
forever. I am about to rejoin the Emperor, 
who is marching at the head of his legions to 
the frontier to meet the army of the Allies. We 
are on the eve of a great battle. I shall give 
my life gladly for my country, but I shall carry 
to my grave the memory of the only woman I 
ever truly loved. Adieu !” 

With these words he rushed past her through 
the door and hurriedly left the house. 

When he had gone Hortense clenched her 
hands tightly and began pacing the apartment 
with the lithe movements of a tigress. 

“ ‘The only woman he ever truly loved/ ” she 
muttered jealously. “Oh, how I hate him ! And 
yet I love him, too — aye, madly. Ah! it is a 
terrible thing to love and hate a man at the 
same time .” 

Her meditations were interrupted by the en- 
trance of Louise. 

“Hortense/ , said the girl quietly, “why did 
Eugene return at such a time as this ? Can you 
tell me ?” 

“Why,” stammered Hortense, confused by 
the suddenness of the question, “he — he said — • 
that word reached him in his exile that you 
were about to wed a soldier of the Empire.” 

“Who sent that word ?” 

“I’m sure I do not know.” 


146 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“That is a falsehood. The woman who can 
utter one falsehood would not hesitate at an- 
other.” 

“Madame,” said Hortense, now thoroughly- 
frightened, “what can you possibly mean ? Pray 
explain yourself.” 

“You came to us claiming to be a governess,” 
returned Louise. “You won my faith, my love. 
I trusted you. You told me you had been a 
governess in the household of Monsieur de 
Montville. That was a falsehood. You were 
his betrothed. I knew from the first that you 
loved him, and my instinct told me why you 
refused to attend our wedding yesterday.” 

“Why, how clever you are!” sneered Hor- 
tense. 

Louise continued: 

“Eugene received word in his exile that I 
was about to marry an officer in the Emperor’s 
army. Who sent that word? He came direct 
to you — you, who waited at home to receive 
him. Who planned that meeting between my 
brother and myself in the garden? You ! Who 
arranged that my husband should witness our 
meeting? You! Who suggested that Eugene 
should appear under an assumed name so that 
my husband’s mind might be poisoned with 
doubts of me ? It was you !” 

“Madame,” cried Hortense defiantly, “you 
have no evidence of what you assert.” 

“Evidence?” returned Louise, fixing upon 
her a penetrating look. “What need have I of 
evidence ? I read the truth in your guilty face.” 


WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN I47 

At this Hortense laughed hysterically. 

“So your eyes are opened at last?” she said. 
“Had I wished to wreck your life, madame, 
what was to prevent me from saying to your 
husband, ‘Here is the Count de Vere. Arrest 
him !’ Can you not see the blow I might have 
dealt you had my heart been a vindictive one ?” 

“You had no grievance against my brother, 
so you spared him,” said Louise ; “but in doing 
so you dealt a more cruel blow to me — to my 
husband, whom you love.” 

Hortense dropped her an ironical curtsy. 

“Madame, allow me to pay homage to your 
cleverness,” she cried. “If you had not been 
blind you might have seen it long ago. Yes, 
I love Guilbert de Montville. Did I not warn 
you to steel your heart against him? Did I 
not tell you his love belonged to another ? What 
right had you to come between us, you who 
could count your lovers by the score ?” 

Louise's beautiful eyes flashed fire. 

“That is a lie!” she exclaimed. “You have 
robbed me of my only love — my husband’s. You 
have wrecked both our lives. And now that 
your work is accomplished, you shall go. Yes,” 
she cried, pointing imperiously to the door, 
“Go! .Take your smiling, deceitful face and 
world-worn heart out of this house forever !” 

Hortense gazed at her in amazement. Could 
it be possible that one so gentle and loving as 
Louise could be transformed by love into the 


I48 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

superb embodiment of wrath that now con- 
fronted her ? For a moment she was confound- 
ed ; then her wits returned to her and she said 
with a scornful laugh : 

“Yes, I will go. Perhaps I may yet be in 
time to warn your husband that the Count de 
Vere is about to escape.” 

“You would not dare,” cried Louise. 

“Dare? Napoleon would reward me hand- 
somely. Why should I not dare?” 

And she started toward the door. 

Louise sprang in front of her, crying : 

“Stop, stop ! You shall not !” 

“What will prevent me?” sneered Hortense. 
“Your poor frail hands. Pshaw! Did you 
think your brother could escape? Major Du- 
rant’s spies are everywhere. I might have let 
him escape, but since you have dismissed me 
from your service, madame, he shall rot in a 
dungeon into which your own husband shall 
plunge him.” 

It was in vain that Louise endeavored to op- 
pose her. The infuriated woman brushed her 
ruthlessly aside and hurried away on her mis- 
sion of revenge. 


CHAPTER XVI 


A WINDFALL 

While this impassioned scene was being en- 
acted in the interior of the chateau, a scene of 
a far different character was transpiring in the 
garden back of it. 

On fleeing from De Montville’s question con- 
cerning the horse he had brought from his 
uncle’s stable for the Count de Vere, Hector 
Moulinet hurried to the garden to hide in some 
secluded nook and collect his scattered wits. But 
it turned out that he was escaping one dilemma 
only to rush into another, for as he plunged 
through a thicket of rosebushes, whom did he 
encounter on the other side but Vivette, crouch- 
ed upon the turf, arranging a nosegay of the 
crimson buds. 

He came to a sudden stop before her, blush- 
ing with embarrassment. 

She looked up at him archly, waiting for him 
to speak; but he remained mute. 


150 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“I wish he’d speak to me,” she mused. “I 
wish he’d say that he forgives me for quarrel- 
ing with him yesterday.” Then, rising from 
the ground, she made him a demure curtsy, 
and said aloud, “O, dear! I suppose I must 
apologize for what I said to you yesterday, 
Hector ; but I don’t know how. I’ve had no 
experience.” 

He continued speechless. 

“I think you might at least bid me good 
morning, monsieur,” she went on; “but I see 
you won’t until I humiliate myself. I — I apolo- 
gize — there !” 

Silence. 

“Well, why don’t you say something?” she 
asked. “Do you want me to get down on my 
knees to you ? No, Hector, I can’t do that. I 
won’t do it, if you never speak to me again. 
And — and that would be too bad, for I want to 
hear what you said to me yesterday all over 
again. See, Hector, here is a rose,” she added, 
giving him one of the buds from her nosegay. 
“You need not fear to accept it from me, for the 
thorns are all gone. Do you understand?” 

He took it from her and at last found his 
tongue. 

“Yes — I — understand,” he stammered. 

“We want no thorns in our lives, do we, 
dear?” she murmured, looking up into his face 
with a sweet smile. 

At this his bashfulness left him in an instant, 
and taking her in his arms he kissed her ten- 
derly, crying : 


A WINDFALL 


151 


“There are no thorns here, Vivette !” 

While she was still in his embrace, Madame 
Girard — who had come into the garden in 
search of her daughter — thrust her head 
through the thicket, and exclaimed angrily : 

“Vivette, what is the meaning of this ?” 

The girl escaped from her lover’s arms and 
hung her head. 

“Hector will tell you, mamma,” she answered 
timidly. 

Madame Girard turned to the young man. 
“Monsieur Hector,” she said severely, “explain 
yourself?” 

Now, although the youth was the personifica- 
tion of bashfulness in the presence of the girl 
he loved, he was courageous enough upon other 
occasions. So he answered boldly: 

“Madame, I love your daughter.” 

“But Vivette does not love you.” 

“Indeed I do, mamma,” said the girl with a 
great show of spirit. 

“Pray remember your place,” said her 
mother. 

“I do,” returned Vivette defiantly; “my place 
is here.” 

And with that she stepped to Hector’s side 
and hung confidingly upon his arm. 

“Vivette, how dare you!” exclaimed her 
mother. 

“Speak for me, Hector,” whispered the girl. 

Thus admonished, the young man spoke as 
follows : 


152 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Madame Girard, I love Vivette, and she 
loves me. I want her promise to be my wife. 
I know I’m not good enough for her, but she 
loves me, and I’ll work. I hope you won’t ob- 
ject, madame.” 

“Work!” cried Madame Girard scornfully. 
“You’ll work ! At what, pray?” Then, as Hec- 
tor did not answer, she continued: “Listen, 
when you can provide Vivette with a home as 
good as the one she now enjoys, come to me, 
and perhaps I’ll consider your suit. Until then 
I forbid you to speak to her again. As to you, 
silly child,” she added, turning sternly to Vi- 
vette, “when you’re old enough to take a hus- 
band I’ll choose one for you that will do you 
honor. Come, return with me to the chateau at 
once !” 

With these words she seized her daughter’s 
arm and marched sternly off with her to the 
house. 

Hector gazed after them ruefully until they 
disappeared from view, and then returned, with 
a heavy heart, to his uncle’s house. M. Moulinet 
had arrived home before him — having met the 
Count at the appointed place with the promised 
passports — and was sitting in his library, await- 
ing his nephew’s coming, in the best of humor. 
When the young man appeared before him he 
noticed that he seemed greatly depressed, and 
inquired : 

“Why, what ails you, my boy? Have you 
seen Vivette again this morning?” 


A WINDFALL 


153 


“Yes,” replied Hector sullenly. 

“And wouldn’t the little vixen make it up 
with you ?” 

“Uncle, she loves me.” 

“Did she tell you so?” 

“Yes.” 

“Then why are you so glum ?” 

“Her mother objects.” 

“Ahem!” exclaimed M. Moulinet nervously. 
“Did she state the reasons for her objections?” 

“Yes.” 

“What were they ?” 

“She said that until I could provide a home 
for Vivette as good as the one she now enjoys 
she would never consider my suit.” 

The old gentleman heaved a sigh of relief. 

“Oh! is that all?” he exclaimed. “Well, my 
boy, you have no cause for worry, for the day 
you take a wife the Moulinet estates are yours.” 

Hector was dumfounded. 

“Oh, uncle!” he cried, “I can’t accept them. 
It would leave you penniless.” 

“Penniless?” returned M. Moulinet with a 
good-humored laugh. “No, Hector; for I dare 
say you would grant your old uncle an allow- 
ance after he had given you his all.” 

“Of course I should do that ; but, dear uncle, 
it is too much, far too much.” 

And Hector put his arms around his uncle’s 
neck and embraced him affectionately. 

“Tut, tut!” said the benevolent old man. 
“You have no especial reason to feel grateful 


154 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

to me, for in giving you my estates now I am 
relieving myself of a great burden. I am grow- 
ing old, you are better able to manage my af- 
fairs than I am, and besides I am only giving 
you, during my lifetime, that which I would 
bequeath to you at my death. So say no more 
about it, but help me to make an inventory of 
my possessions, so that when they pass into 
your hands you will know the exact sum and 
substance of your fortune.” 

With these words M. Moulinet went over to 
a cabinet that stood in a corner of the library 
and took from it a great bundle of papers. He 
then sat down at a table, and commanding his 
nephew to take a chair opposite him, untied the 
bundle and proceeded to an examination of the 
documents. 

As each one was scrutinized, Hector made a 
note of its contents on a sheet of paper. The 
documents consisted of titles to broad tracts of 
land, deeds to houses, notes, mortgages and 
loans. They began work at midday, but it was 
close to sunset ere they had finished, when it 
was found that the fortune that was to become 
Hector’s on his wedding day amounted to three 
million francs. 

“Three million francs !” cried Hector. “Why, 
Uncle, you are a veritable Croesus !” 

The old gentleman smiled. 

“Is it a sufficient sum to satisfy the scruples 
of Vivette’s mother, think you?” he inquired 
with a significant wink. 


CHAPTER XVII 


THE FLIGHT TO THE MILL 

When Hortense had left the sitting room to 
put her threat into execution, Louise sank help- 
lessly into an armchair, and burying her face in 
her hands, abandoned herself completely to de- 
spair. 

What would be the outcome of it all ? 

It was true that her brother had a fair start 
on his enemies; but could he escape the innu- 
merable spies which Hortense had informed her 
were watching his every movement at the com- 
mand of Major Durant? That officer had long 
since gone over to Napoleon, and it was certain 
that he would arrest the Count at the first op- 
portunity, if only to curry favor with his new 
master. That he had not done so before was 
probably a part of his understanding with Hor- 
tense to revenge themselves upon her husband 
by forcing him to arrest her brother. 


156 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

Louise was aroused from her lethargy by a 
sigh close behind her. She started, and casting 
a quick glance over her shoulder, beheld her 
husband standing within a foot of her chair, 
his hands clasped before him, his eyes bent upon 
the floor, in an attitude of humility and peni- 
tence. 

She arose and confronted him, crying : 

“Thank God, you have come back to me!” 

“Yes,” he responded faintly, “I have come 
back to ask your pardon for the grievous wrong 
I have done you.” 

“To ask my pardon?” 

“Louise,” he continued, pointing to the ad- 
joining chamber, “I was listening behind that 
door and heard every word that passed between 
you and that wicked woman. I know that you 
are innocent, my love, my wife, and that I am 
utterly unworthy to be called your husband. I 
have been guilty of sacrilege in doubting one 
so pure, so holy, and do not deserve to be for- 
given. And yet I presume to ask your forgive- 
ness. Will you grant it?” 

She rushed into his arms. 

“Forgive you?” she cried. “Yes, Guilbert, 
with all my heart !” 

And she burst into a flood of tears. 

He pressed her close to his bosom. 

“Why do you tremble so? Why do you 
weep ?” he asked tenderly. 

“For joy, dear husband.” 

And she looked up at him radiantly through 
her tears. 


THE FLIGHT TO THE MILL 157 

“I thought I had lost your respect forever,” 
she said, “and it was not my fault. Oh ! Guil- 
bert, why did you not understand ? Where was 
your faith in me ? Could you believe me so base 
as to entertain a lover on my wedding night? 
No, no ; I am yours, only yours, forever !” 

“I know it, I know it,” he murmured. 

“Then why did you make me suffer so ? But 
you did not know. You were not to blame. It 
was I who was at fault. I should not have de- 
ceived you. You saw me in the arms of a stran- 
ger, and I should have told you that he was 
my — .” She paused suddenly and regarded him 
with a look of fear. “Oh, God !” she exclaimed, 
“what am I saying? But you know, you know. 
You listened at the door and heard all. Oh, 
Guilbert, husband ! you will not arrest Eugene ! 
You will not kill me !” 

At this juncture the sound of heavy footfalls, 
accompanied by the clank of arms, came from 
the hall, and a moment later Major Durant and 
two soldiers entered the apartment, escorting 
the Count de Vere as their prisoner. Behind 
them Hortense de Graysant stalked triumph- 
antly. 

“Captain de Montville,” said Durant, point- 
ing to the Count, “behold the man Napoleon 
commanded you to arrest! I surrender him 
into your custody.” 

Louise wrung her hands and moaned de- 
spairingly, while De Montville looked from Du- 
rant to his prisoner, but neither moved nor ut- 
tered a word. 


158 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Why are you silent, monsieur ?” asked Hor- 
tense, stepping forward. “Why do you hesi- 
tate to perform your duty? We have brought 
you the man you have been seeking. Arrest 
him !” 

De Montville turned to the Count. 

“Monsieur,” said he, “your name, if you 
please ?” 

“The Count de Vere,” replied Eugene boldly. 

“You see, Captain,” sneered Hortense, “we 
are not mistaken. It is the man you seek.” 

“Say rather the man you would betray,” re- 
turned De Montville, fixing upon her a look of 
withering scorn. Then turning to the soldiers, 
“Men, release your prisoner!” he commanded 
imperiously. “Since the Major has surrender- 
ed him into my custody, it is my will that his 
freedom be restored to him.” 

The soldiers saluted and stepped back. 

“Traitor!” cried Hortense. 

“Napoleon will have you shot for this !” ex- 
claimed Durant. 

But De Montville heeded them not. First 
he turned to Louise and whispered tenderly, 
“My wife, this I do for love.” Then he placed 
himself at the Count's side. “Brother,” he 
said, “you are provided with a horse and so am 
I. We will ride together to the frontier. 
Come!” 

And taking the Count by the arm, he led him 
boldly out of the house. 

On reaching the open air, the Count said to 
him: 


THE FLIGHT TO THE MILL 159 

“Captain de Montville, I perceive you are 
a man of honor and am unwilling to have you 
risk your life on my account. I beg of you, 
therefore, to arrest me. It is my wish.” 

De Montville regarded him with surprise. 

“What, arrest my brother!” he replied. “You 
forget, monsieur, that we are no longer stran- 
gers. I am the husband of your sister and 
would not be worthy of her love did I hesitate 
to risk my life on your account.” 

At this the Count embraced him, crying: 
“Monsieur, you have a brave and noble heart! 
I see my sister has chosen wisely. From hence- 
forth let all political differences between us be 
forgotten and let us regard one another as 
brothers.” 

“Agreed!” returned De Montville with fer- 
vor; adding, “and now that we understand 
each other, let us waste no more time in words, 
but start for the frontier at once. Where is 
your horse, Eugene ?” 

The Count pointed to an elm on the lawn 
to which four chargers were tethered, and re- 
plied : 

“My horse stands yonder. It is the big chest- 
nut with the flowing mane.” 

“And whose are the others ?” 

“They belong to Major Durant and the sol- 
diers who were with him when he arrested 
me. 

“In that case,” said De Montville, with a 
smile, “as my own horse is not at hand and we 


l6o A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

are in a great hurry, I shall appropriate one 
of those animals for myself.” 

With these words he led the way to the elm, 
and selecting the best of the three chargers, 
untied it from the tree and vaulted lightly into 
the saddle. At the same time the Count mount- 
ed his chestnut, and applying their spurs, the 
two men cantered off from the chateau. 

They had not gone far, however, when they 
heard the clatter of hoofs behind them, and 
looking around perceived that Major Durant 
and one of the soldiers were in hot pursuit. 
This discovery caused them to increase their 
pace, and soon they were galloping over the 
broad avenue leading from the chateau with 
the speed of a whirlwind. 

It will be remembered that the Chateau de 
Vere was situated upon an island in the River 
Serre. A bridge connected this island with the 
mainland, and toward it the fugitives made 
their way. On reaching it they found two sen- 
tinels on guard, who made a faint effort to op- 
pose their flight ; nevertheless, the fugitives rode 
furiously past them and crossed over. 

Now it happened that every road in the vi- 
cinity leading to the frontier was occupied by 
General Grouchy’s division of the Emperor’s 
army, marching to join Napoleon in Belgium. 
They were aware of this ; but as the Count was 
provided with passports and De Montville was 
a captain of Imperial Hussars, they entertained 
no fear that free passage would be denied them. 


THE FLIGHT TO THE MILL l6l 

So striking into a road connecting with the 
highway to Brussels, they dashed on. 

After riding several miles, with their pur- 
suers still close in the rear, they approached a 
causeway over a narrow stream, where a troop 
of Chasseurs were in bivouac. Several were 
mounted guard at the entrance. On seeing 
them De Montville said to his companion : 

“Make your passports ready for examination, 
Eugene, so that we can proceed before Durant 
can overtake us.” 

The Count did as he was requested, and they 
rode on in silence for a few rods. 

Then suddenly he reined in his horse and 
came to an abrupt halt, crying out in tones of 
dismay : 

“Stop, Guilbert! It is of no use to attempt 
the passage of that bridge. We are undone !” 

De Montville checked his charger and wheel- 
ing back to his side, asked anxiously: 

“Undone! Why, what do you mean?” 

“That the troops before us are the Chasseurs 
of Major Durant, and will certainly take me 
prisoner if I attempt to pass them.” 

They were now in a position of extreme 
peril. Before them were Durant's Chasseurs, 
who, beyond the shadow of a doubt, had been 
stationed in their path by the Major for the ex- 
press purpose of preventing the Count’s es- 
cape. Behind them was the Major himself with 
a mounted soldier. It is true they might charge 
upon these two and break past them; but it 


162 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


would only result in an organized pursuit from 
which they could hardly hope to escape. 

What was to be done ? 

In this dilemma the Count bethought him of 
an old abandoned mill on an island in the 
Serre, about a mile off, that might serve them as 
a temporary refuge. So turning to De Mont- 
ville, he said : 

, “There is but one chance of escape left us, 
Guilbert, and we must take it. Dismount and 
follow me !” 

While speaking, he vaulted from the saddle, 
and leaving his horse to its own devices, plung- 
ed into the dense forest that bordered the road 
to their right. De Montville followed his ex- 
ample, and soon they had passed out of sight of 
the road and were crashing through the thick 
underbrush toward the Serre. 

When Durant came up he ordered his Chas- 
seurs to scatter and beat the woodland in all di- 
rections. They did so with a will; but it was 
of no avail. 

The fugitives made the most of their start, 
pushed on to the Serre, crossed the narrow foot 
bridge leading to the island, and reached the 
shelter of the venerable mill in safety. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


“ DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR ” 

Now it happened that when De Montville left 
the chateau to escort her brother to the frontier, 
and Durant started in pursuit of them, Louise 
mounted into a high turret that commanded an 
extensive view of the surrounding country to 
watch the fortunes of the chase. Hortense, ac- 
tuated by the same motive, ascended into an- 
other turret that overlooked the same prospect 
to do likewise. So, unknown to each other, the 
two women saw everything that transpired — 
the furious ride to the causeway, the escape into 
the forest, and the passage of De Montville and 
the Count across the foot-bridge to the island 
upon which the old mill was situated. 

When the fugitives had entered the mill 
Louise descended from her watch tower to con- 
cert a plan for their escape, while Hortense hur- 
ried off to find Durant and plot their capture. 


164 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

Realizing that her friends would need food 
in their hiding place, Louise went down into the 
kitchen and filled a basket with bread, meat 
and wine. Then she sought out Vivette, told 
her all she had seen, and implored her to carry 
the provisions to the two men. 

“Take Hector with you as an escort, and go 
at once,” she said. “I will follow later on with 
M. Moulinet.” 

Accordingly Vivette took the basket and has- 
tened to the notary’s abode to find her lover. 
She arrived there at sunset, and burst into the 
library just as M. Moulinet and his nephew had 
finished their computation of his fortune. 

“Hector,” she said, “I am going on a very 
dangerous mission and want you to accompany 
me as a protector.” 

“A dangerous mission?” he cried in amaze- 
ment. “What do you mean?” 

“I will explain later,” she answered. “There 
is no time for words now. Come.” 

Saying which she turned abruptly and led 
the way out through the door. 

Hector snatched up his hat and followed, 
greatly wondering what could be the meaning 
of her strange conduct. During the journey 
to the mill he asked her innumerable questions ; 
but she never vouchsafed him a reply. On reach- 
ing the footbridge, however, she paused, and 
uplifting a warning finger, said to him : 

“Promise you won’t tell.” 

“I promise,” he replied. 


DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 


(C 


165 


At this she pointed mysteriously to the mill, 
and lowering her voice to a whisper continued : 

“You see that old building yonder?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, in that old structure are hidden Cous- 
in Eugene and Captain de Montville. I have 
brought them a supper in this basket.” 

He uttered an exclamation of astonishment. 

“How long have they been there?” he in- 
quired. 

“Since noon. At that hour they started for 
the frontier together; but Major Durant placed 
his soldiers in their way with orders to arrest 
Eugene if he attempted to pass.” 

“What right had he to do that ?” 

“None ; but he hoped to curry favor with Na- 
poleon, while at the same time revenging him- 
self upon Louise and her husband.” 

While she was speaking a window in the 
mill was opened cautiously and De Montville 
thrust forth his head. 

“Hello, there, Vivette!” he exclaimed in a 
whisper. “Is the coast clear ?” 

“Yes,” she replied; “come down; Eve 
brought you some supper.” 

“Supper ? Where is it ?” 

“Here in this basket.” 

“Good. You have saved us from starvation. 
I’ll be down directly,” said De Montville, and 
his head disappeared from the window. 

Vivette and Hector now crossed the foot- 
bridge and proceeded to the mill door. 


1 66 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


Presently it opened and De Montville and the 
Count stepped forth. 

After greeting them hurriedly, Vivette sat 
down on the edge of the mill race, and opening 
her basket, offered food and drink to the half- 
famished men, who, as they had not partaken 
of a morsel since breakfast, ate ravenously. 

While they were so engaged, Louise and M. 
Moulinet joined them. 

“Captain de Montville,” said the notary, “I 
have brought hither your wife.” 

At this De Montville sprang forward and 
clasped Louise tenderly to his bosom, crying: 

“Ah, my poor little wife ! It was a cruel des- 
tiny that brought me to this village to lay such 
a burden of sorrow upon your heart.” 

“Do not say that, Guilbert,” she murmured, 
“for I never knew real happiness until you 
came into my life. This sorrow comes not 
from you, but from our enemies — from Hor- 
tense, from Durant.” 

“Captain,” interposed M. Moulinet anx- 
iously, “have you made any plans for escape as 
yet ?” 

“Yes,” replied De Montville; “up the river 
about half a mile there is a boat. When it is 
night I shall fetch it down here and row the 
Count across the river under cover of the dark- 
ness. If you could contrive in some way to 
have a horse ready for him on the other side, 
he would have a fair chance to escape to the 
frontier.” 


DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 




167 


“And will you not try to escape as well?’’ 
asked Louise. 

“No, Louise," he answered gravely; “I can- 
not play the coward. My love for you prompts 
me to forget my duty as a soldier and try to 
save your brother from Napoleon's wrath. That 
accomplished, I still owe my country a soldier's 
debt for disobedience. I may sacrifice duty, but 
never honor." 

“Oh, Guilbert," cried Louise in alarm, “your 
country asks too much of you ! Or rather Na- 
poleon, for your country requires no such sacri- 
fice on your part. This is a personal spite of the 
Emperor’s. France never asked for the arrest 
of my brother. France will forgive your diso- 
bedience." 

“But Napoleon will not," he replied. 

“Napoleon, always Napoleon!" she exclaim- 
ed. “Is the Emperor more than France?" 

“No, no; it is our country we soldiers love 
and fight for," he responded; then turning to 
the notary, “my good friend, will you provide 
the Count with a horse?" 

“I will provide two," said M. Moulinet. 

“No, one will suffice. When the Count de 
Vere has escaped, I shall deliver myself up to 
Napoleon." 

M. Moulinet shook his head sadly. 

“If you are determined, I can say no more," 
he said. 

“Guilbert," cried Louise in despair, “promise 
that you will escape to the frontier with Eu- 
gene and save yourself !" 


1 68 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


De Montville kissed her tenderly. 

“Louise,” he said, “I beg of you to return 
to the chateau. Whatever happens, I would not 
expose you to danger.” 

“No, Guilbert,” she returned, “if you are in 
danger it is right that I should share it.” Then 
clasping her hands, she looked up beseechingly 
into his face and cried out in tones of passionate 
anxiety: “Save yourself! Let Eugene shift 
for himself and flee from this place at once. 
You know what will happen to you if you sur- 
render yourself to the Emperor. He will have 
you shot for disobedience. Oh, my love for 
you is so great, dearest, that it would kill me 
if any evil should befall you !” 

“My wife,” he said reproachfully, “have you 
come here to tempt me to a dishonorable deed ? 
Hasten back to the chateau, I implore you, and 
leave me to perform my duty.” 

She regarded him with a troubled look and 
asked tremulously : 

“Which do you value most — your honor or 
my life?” 

“Your life.” 

“Then you will leave this place at once, for if 
you sacrifice yourself to save my brother from 
imprisonment, I swear that I will never survive 
you. Would you kill your poor little wife?” 
she added pathetically. 

“What shall I do?” he moaned. “God help 


DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 


tc 


169 


Seeing him hesitate, she flung herself on her 
knees at his feet and cried out in heartrending 
tones : 

“Oh, my husband, I implore you to listen to 
me ! Do not destroy both our lives for a quix- 
otic idea of honor. But save yourself and make 
me happy. Keep my heart from breaking and I 
will reward you with the adoration of a life- 
time !” 

For a brief moment De Montville’s face' was 
transfigured with an expression of infinite long- 
ing. .There was a wondrous softness in the 
look that he fixed upon the girl at his feet and 
a happy smile parted his lips. Louise was be- 
ginning to hope that she had triumphed over his 
determination, when he turned away with a 
sigh that seemed to rise from his heart’s 
depths, and bowing his head upon his breast, 
muttered sternly: 

“Death before dishonor !” 

When he turned toward her a moment later 
his countenance was of a ghastly whiteness and 
inflexible in the resolution it expressed. 

“Come, Louise,” he said in a hoarse, hollow 
voice, “let us put an end to this painful inter- 
view.” 

He stooped down and assisted her to arise, 
expecting a demonstration of the wildest grief 
on her part. He was greatly surprised, there- 
fore, when she confronted him calmly and with 
an imperious toss of her head, exclaimed in 
tones of defiance : 


170 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Monsieur, you are obstinate ! Since you are 
determined not to save yourself, I must see 
what I can do on your behalf.” Then address* 
ing herself to the notary, “Come, Monsieur 
Moulinet,” she cried, “escort me back to the 
chateau! I have business of importance to 
transact and shall need your advice and as- 
sistance.” 

With these words she took the old notary’s 
arm and waving an adieu to the fugitives, 
crossed the foot-bridge to the mainland and dis- 
appeared among the trees in the direction of the 
chateau. Vivette and Hector soon followed her 
example, leaving De Montville and the Count 
alone in their place of refuge. 


CHAPTER XIX 


BESIEGED 

Scarcely had the party from the chateau re- 
tired from the island, when the fugitives were 
honored with another visitor — Hortense de 
Graysant. 

Crossing the foot-bridge hurriedly, she ap- 
proached the mill race where they were still 
standing, and dropping them a low curtsy, said : 

“Good evening, gentlemen !” Then to De 
Montville, “Monsieur, may I speak with you 
alone ?” she asked. 

“I am at your service, madame,” replied De 
Montville. 

And he retired with her to a place apart. 

“I presume, monsieur,” began Hortense, 
“that you are curious to know what brought 
me here alone at such an hour ?” 

De Montville shrugged his shoulders. 

“O, not at all,” he said indifferently; “you 
were ever out of place, invariably ill-timed, and 


1 7 2 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

I may say, without much violence to my polite- 
ness, always unwelcome.” 

“O, thank you! thank you, monsieur!” she 
exclaimed bitterly. “I came here to do you a 
favor.” 

“And demand a greater one in return. I am 
very sorry, but I cannot accommodate you.” 

And he turned away with the intention of 
putting an end to the interview. But she threw 
herself before him, crying : 

“Guilbert de Montville, hear me! You are 
in imminent peril. Long ago Major Durant in- 
formed Napoleon that you had fallen in love 
with the Count de Vere’s sister and would let 
him escape if he fell into your hands. The Em- 
peror was furious, and invested him with provi- 
sional authority to have you taken, court-mar- 
tialed and shot if you failed in your duty and 
disobeyed him. You have liberated the Count 
and are, therefore, doomed; for Durant is re- 
solved upon your death.” 

“And so you have come here to break the 
news gently,” said De Montville in sarcastic 
tones. “It is like you, madame; so good and 
thoughtful.” 

“Do not sneer,” she cried earnestly; “for 
your danger is great. Every means of escape 
from this island is cut off. I alone can save 
you.” 

“And will you?” 

“Yes,” she returned passionately, “if you will 
love me as I love you; yes. Listen! I have 


BESIEGED 


173 


bribed the soldiers who are now guarding the 
foot-bridge to let us pass. Two horses are 
awaiting us on the mainland. Once there we 
can mount them and hasten across the frontier 
to freedom — to happiness, to — ” 

“To perdition !” he exclaimed with a mock- 
ing laugh. 

She drew her heavy eyebrows together in a 
vindictive frown and her face became pallid 
with rage. 

“What, you scorn me? You refuse me? ,? 
she hissed. 

“Yes, absolutely.” 

“Then I shall have you shot !” she said. 

“Do so,” he rejoined, “and may it give you 
much joy. Go, send your hireling soldiers to 
take me if they can.” 

At this she broke into a jeering laugh. 

“Monsieur,” she said, “your courage may not 
be so high when you are confronted with a row 
of bristling bayonets.” 

“Bristling bayonets,” he replied, “are harm- 
less things compared to a woman’s rage.” 

“I have offered you my love,” she cried; 
“now you shall feel my hate !” 

He replied : 

“I scorn the one and defy the other. Bring 
forth your hirelings!” Then pointing to the 
mill, “This is my castle,” he added, “and I shall 
defend it to the death against my enemies !” 

With that their interview ended. 


174 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

When Hortense had departed from the is- 
land, De Montville returned to the Count de 
Vere and said to him : 

“Eugene, we must prepare for a siege.” 

“A siege?” replied the Count. “What do you 
mean ?” 

“That Durant will soon arrive here with his 
soldiers to arrest us. We must make ready to 
resist him.” 

“How?” 

“By placing this old mill in a position of de- 
fense. Come, let us examine the premises and 
decide upon a plan of fortification at once. 
There is no time to spare.” 

The two men now proceeded to make a criti- 
cal examination of the building, going from 
floor to floor and from room to room, and not- 
ing the places best adapted for a barricade. 
When they had finished their rounds they re- 
turned to the mill race and discussed various 
plans of defense. It was finally decided to es- 
tablish a series of barricades, one within the 
other, after the design of a military camp. 

The great door of the mill was to be the first 
of these defenses. It was of massive oak planks, 
and when closed was held in place by heavy 
cross bars, which rendered it well nigh impreg- 
nable. The second barricade was to be erected 
at the head of the steep stairway leading to the 
second floor, a third at the head of the flight 
leading to the third story, and a fourth at the 
head of the ladder communicating with the 
roof. 


BESIEGED 


175 


Thus the defenders would be enabled to op- 
pose their assailants step by step to the roof, 
where if the worst should happen they could 
resort to the desperate expedient of leaping into 
the deep pool below the mill dam, swimming to 
the shore and hiding in the forest that bordered 
the river banks at this point. 

Having resolved upon this plan, the two men 
set to work with a will. They found plenty of 
material at hand for the construction of the bar- 
ricades. In the mill lofts was stored a quantity 
of mouldy grain and flour in sacks, barrels and 
boxes, and these were made available in the pro- 
cess of converting the building into a fortress. 

Moreover, in ransacking the lofts, De Mont- 
ville had discovered an old arquebus of the sev- 
enteenth century, which he determined to make 
use of as a cannon. Emptying his powder flask 
into its capacious muzzle, he loaded it with 
nails, bolts, and scraps of iron, and adjusted an 
improvised fuse in the touch-hole. This formi- 
dable weapon he placed in the third barricade, 
at the head of the stairs leading to the third 
floor, in such a position that it commanded a 
sweeping range of the flight from top to bot- 
tom. 

When the barricades were completed it was 
night, and believing that Durant would not ven- 
ture to attack them in the darkness, the two 
men composed themselves to rest. They took 
turns in watching and sleeping through the long 
hours of the night, and at daybreak made a 


1 7 6 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

breakfast of the scraps remaining in Vivette’s 
basket, and then looked to the priming of their 
pistols and made final preparations for the at- 
tack. 

They were still engaged in this work when 
they were rudely interrupted by a loud knocking 
on the great door of the mill, and a deep voice 
called out: 

“Open in the name of the Emperor !” 

“It is Durant,” whispered De Montville. 
“The critical moment has arrived at last.” 

For an instant the Count gave way to his 
fears. His face became ghastly white and he 
trembled as with an ague. Then a nobler emo- 
tion drove all terror from his heart, and turn- 
ing to the Captain, he cried out impulsively : 

“I beseech you to risk your life no longer for 
me, De Montville. You cannot save me. Then 
why not deliver me up to Durant and save your- 
self?” 

De Montville smiled disdainfully. 

“God will save me in His own good time,” 
he answered. “At present He has delivered 
you into my keeping, and I must remain faith- 
ful to the trust.” 

It was decided that De Montville should go 
down and hold a parley with Durant. Accord- 
ingly he looked to the priming of his pistols and 
approached the door. 

As he drew near it, the soldiers without, im- 
patient to be about their work, began to rain 
blows upon the oaken timbers with axes and 


BESIEGED 


177 


heavy sledges. It was apparent that they had 
come fully prepared to break down every obsta- 
cle that might be placed in their way. 

Applying his mouth to the crevice, De Mont- 
ville called through it boldly : 

“Hold, ruffians ! Have you come here to rob 
me that you must needs batter down my 
doors ?” 

At this Durant ordered his men to pause in 
their work, while he called back mockingly to 
the man within : 

“What, De Montville, acting your own por- 
ter?” 

“Whatever part I may be acting,” retorted 
De Montville, “it is at least an honorable one.” 

The Major was evidently in rare good hu- 
mor, for the implied reproach in this answer he 
utterly disregarded. 

“Well,” he said good-naturedly, “I am glad 
to have an opportunity to reason with you, Cap- 
tain; for I would not do you an injury if I 
could help it. You are wronging yourself by 
protecting an enemy of your Emperor. ,Come,” 
he added, beginning to manifest annoyance, 
“enough of your false notions of honor! Be 
reasonable and surrender the Count without 
further ado.” 

“And what if I refuse?” 

“Then, as sure as there is a God in heaven, I 
will break through the door. Aye, I will pass 
over your dead body, if need be, to secure him.” 


178 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“Very well, then,” said De Montville, coolly, 
“the sooner you begin the attempt the better.” 

And with that he withdrew from the door 
and returned to his place by the Count's side. 

Meanwhile the battering on the door was re- 
sumed, and Durant’s voice repeated: 

“Open, in the name of the Emperor !” 


CHAPTER XX 


THE ATTACK 

The blows of the ponderous sledges crashed 
unceasingly on the resonant wood; axes cut 
deep gashes in the solid panels; bars pried at 
lock and hinge ; but the sturdy barrier remained 
unconquered. 

Baffled in their attempts, the assailants began 
to threaten and curse. Some, in the excess of 
their rage, cast aside their tools and flung them- 
selves bodily against the massive planks. The 
din and clamor were appalling. And through it 
all De Montville and the Count stood waiting, 
with throbbing hearts, the moment when the 
groaning beams would snap asunder and their 
enemies come pouring into the mill. 

The Count turned to De Montville. 

“Would it not be well, ,, said he, “to fire 
upon these ruffians? If we could manage to 
wound one or two it might cool their ardor.” 

“No,” returned De Montville, “I will not con- 
sent to that until they attack me in my castle. 


i8o 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


Then I will not scruple to kill as many of them 
as you please.” 

So they relapsed into silence and continued 
their anxious waiting. 

Suddenly they heard a crash like an explo- 
sion, followed by a chorus of triumphant 
shouts ; then the splintering of timbers ; then the 
creaking and groaning of iron hinges, and they 
knew that the door was at last yielding. In the 
cold, dim light of the now fast-coming day, 
they could see that it was tottering to its fall. 

One heavy beam still held it in place, and 
upon it the assailants were hammering furiously 
with their sledges. Through the widening 
chasm could be distinguished their ferocious 
faces and active forms. 

Presently the door gave way. 

Its fall was greeted with yells of savage joy, 
and the next instant the soldiers sprang through 
the opening into the mill. 

De Montville ascended hurriedly to the sec- 
ond story. 

“Make ready, Eugene!” he cried. “They 
are coming.” 

And cocking his pistols he crouched down be- 
hind the barricade at the head of the stairway. 
The Count followed his example, the embodi- 
ment of grim determination. 

On reaching the foot of the stairs the soldiers 
beheld the barricade and hesitated. 

Instantly De Montville sprang to his feet, a 
pistol in each hand, and aiming at the heads of 
their leaders, shouted in tones of thunder : 


THE ATTACK 


181 


“ Advance another step and I fire !” 

Intimidated for the moment, they fell back. 
At this juncture Durant entered the mill, and 
observing their irresolution, commanded them 
to advance upon the barricade at once. 

But still they hesitated. 

“What !” he cried furiously, “are you afraid 
of one man? Make room! Out of my way!” 

And pushing them to the right and left he 
ran, sword in hand, to the stairs. 

De Montville covered him with a pistol. 

“Back, Durant !” he cried. “I command you 
to come no nearer, or I will fire. Remember, 
you are invading my castle by force, and I will 
be justified in killing you if you disobey me.” 

Durant’s answer was a roar of defiance. 

Utterly regardless of the pistol, he charged 
recklessly up the flight, calling loudly upon his 
men to follow him. 

De Montville took deliberate aim. He was 
in the act of pressing the trigger when a cry 
from Count Eugene made him pause. 

“To the third floor, Guilbert!” he shouted 
wildly. “To the third floor as fast as you can 
run! The soldiers are attacking us from be- 
hind.” 

The warning came not an instant too soon, 
for when De Montville turned around six arm- 
ed men were approaching them rapidly from 
the rear. It was apparent that while the be- 
sieged had been busy with their comrades, they 
had gone to the back of the mill, placed a ladder 


182 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


against the wall, ascended it, and entered the 
second story through a window. 

Realizing the necessity of instant retreat, the 
fugitives rushed to the staircase communicating 
with the third floor, and mounted it three steps 
at a time. As they did so the sharp report of 
a pistol sounded in their ears and a bullet 
whizzed close over De Montville’s head. 

“Are you hurt ?” asked the Count anxiously, 
as they crouched down behind the third barri- 
cade. 

“Not touched,” he answered, “but it was a 
close shave. ,, 

Even while he was speaking, Durant came 
tumbling into the second story with a score of 
cursing soldiers at his heels. Blind with rage 
and excitement, he rushed wildly toward the 
staircase ; but there two of his men threw them- 
selves in his way. 

“Are you mad, Major ?” they cried. “Would 
you court certain death ?” 

And they pointed to the grinning arquebus 
at the head of the flight. 

The sight of it brought Durant to his senses, 
and he came to a sudden halt. 

Taking advantage of his hesitancy, De Mont- 
ville took aim with the ponderous weapon and 
^ blew up the match. Then raising his head 
above the barricade he called down to the baf- 
fled Major: 


THE ATTACK 


l8 3 


“Begone, both you and your men ! I’ll give 
you ten seconds to obey. If the mill is not 
cleared within that time I’ll blow you all to the 
Devil with this arquebus.” 

Notwithstanding that Durant had fifty men 
with which to overcome but two, he was at first 
considerably taken aback by De Montville’s 
threat; for he realized that an arquebus loaded 
with scrap iron, at the head of a narrow stair- 
case, was not a weapon to be charged upon with 
impunity. 

To be sure the barricade could be taken; but 
those who led the assault would be killed. He 
was unwilling to sacrifice his men and equally 
loathe to retire from the mill. So in this 
dilemma he adopted a compromise measure. 

Withdrawing his men from the foot of the 
stairs, out of range of the deadly weapon, he 
began a series of clever feints artfully calculated 
to draw its fire. Time after time the assailants 
rushed forward to the very foot of the flight, 
and time after time they beat a retreat without 
accomplishing the object they desired. For De 
Montville was not to be outwitted. 

He knew that so long as he could withhold 
the fire of the arquebus the soldiers would not 
venture up the stairs; but that the moment it 
was discharged they would swarm up them to 
storm the barricade. So he wisely disregarded 
every feint. 

Finally Durant commanded his men to desist 
from their vain efforts, and held a whispered 


184 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

consultation with his captains. .Through a loop- 
hole in the barricade the besieged could see them 
conferring with their heads close together. 

“I wonder what deviltry they are concocting 
now ?” whispered the Count. 

“Whatever it may be,” returned De Mont- 
ville, “they will not keep us in ignorance of it 
long, Eugene.” 

“Perhaps they are meditating a retreat,” sug- 
gested the Count hopefully. 

De Montville shook his head and smiled. 

“Do not flatter yourself with such an idea,” 
he answered. “Durant is not the man to let an 
enemy escape so easily. If necessary, he will 
burn the mill about our heads to get at you. He 
is plotting mischief, so keep on the alert.” 

In a few minutes the conference came to an 
end. 

Durant dismissed his captains, and in a loud 
tone of voice ordered his followers to make 
ready for a final charge upon the barricade. 
While they were forming for the assault he 
strode back and forth in front of them, flourish- 
ing his sword ostentatiously and glaring up at 
the besieged with the cool insolence of one who 
knows that victory is already assured. 

“He is going to attack us at last,” groaned 
the Count. 

“I am not so sure of that,” returned De 
Montville, suspiciously. “It strikes me that if 
he really intended an assault he would not go 
about it so openly. He would plan to throw us 
off our guard.” 


THE ATTACK 


185 

While he was speaking his keen ears caught 
the sound of footsteps moving cautiously over 
the floor below, and a moment later he could 
hear them descending the stairs leading down 
to the first story. It was apparent that Durant 
was about to put some clever stratagem in exe- 
cution ; but what could it be ? 

He was mystified. 

Evidently a detachment of Durant’s soldiers 
were in the act of retiring from the building; 
but what was their object in making this mys- 
terious maneuver? It was impossible to sur- 
mise, and yet he might obtain some light upon 
the question by keeping an eye upon their move- 
ments. With this idea in view he turned 
quickly to the Count and whispered : 

“Eugene, I am going to make a reconnais- 
sance. Stand guard until I return. Here is 
the match of the arquebus, but on no account 
discharge the piece unless compelled to. I am 
confident that Durant will not attempt the stairs 
just now; but if he should, fire one of your pis- 
tols and I will come instantly to your assist- 
ance.” 

With these words he crawled quickly to a 
window that overlooked the door of the mill 
and peered out. 

He had not been watching long when he saw 
a dozen soldiers leave the mill in single file and, 
keeping close to the wall, creep round an angle 
of the building toward the rear. As there was 
a window in that part of the structure also, he 


1 86 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


hastened to it and looked out to ascertain, if 
possible, the reason for this strange movement. 

Gazing below, he beheld the soldiers lay two 
long ladders, end to end, upon the ground and 
fasten them securely together with ropes. This 
done, they carried the elongated ladder thus 
made to the foot of the mill wall and began to 
raise one end of it slowly into the air. 

Instantly it flashed upon him that Durant had 
detailed these men to ascend to the roof, pass 
through the scuttle, and fall upon the rear of 
the barricade from above. 

There was not a second to be lost. 

Already the top of the ladder was trembling 
against the eaves. In a minute more the sol- 
diers would be mounting it to cut off their re- 
treat. 

De Montville darted back to the barricade. 

“To the roof, Eugene !” he whispered eagerly. 
“To the roof before it is too late. There is but 
one chance left us. We must risk a leap into 
the pool below the mill dam and swim for it.” 

And with that he turned from the barricade 
and ran at his topmost speed toward the ladder 
leading up to the roof, with the Count follow- 
ing close upon his heels. 

At the same instant Durant ordered his sol- 
diers to charge the barricade. The rafters re- 
sounded to their triumphant cries as they rush- 
ed madly up the stairs to the assault. To their 
surprise, they found the barricade deserted. 

At this Durant threw a quick glance around, 
saw the ladder leading to the open scuttle, and 
cried out in tones of command : 


THE ATTACK 187 

“The rascals are upon the roof. Up, men, 
and at them !” 

Then, placing himself at their head, he 
mounted the ladder nimbly and passed out 
through the scuttle. His men swarmed through 
it after him with tumultuous shouts, but on 
reaching the roof sudden silence fell upon them. 

For the fugitives had disappeared from view. 


CHAPTER XXI 


LOUISE TO THE RESCUE 

On leaving the mill in company with M. 
Moulinet, Hector, and Vivette, Louise hurried 
back to the chateau and called her friends to- 
gether in consultation in the sitting room, for 
she realized that her husband was in deadly 
peril, and that he would certainly be shot for 
disobedience if he persevered in his purpose of 
assisting her brother to escape and afterwards 
delivering himself up to Napoleon. 

“Friends,” she began, “since my husband is 
determined to sacrifice himself for honor’s sake, 
it remains for us to interfere and save him. 
Have you any suggestions to offer ?” 

They had none. 

“Well,” she continued, “I have a plan which 
I think could be carried out with success.” 

“Then for God’s sake reveal it!” cried M. 
Moulinet. 

“It is this,” said Louise. “My brother’s serv- 
ants are devoted to him. He has also many 


LOUISE TO THE RESCUE 1 89 

friends who would risk their lives for him 
among his tenantry. Now I propose to call a 
band of these faithful fellows together, inform 
them of Eugene’s peril, provide them with what 
arms I can find, and lead them to the mill as 
soon as possible to rescue him from Durant and 
escort him to the frontier. Do you think this 
scheme practicable, Monsieur Moulinet?” 

The notary paused a moment to reflect. Then 
he answered : 

“I have no doubt, madame, that you could 
find a hundred men who would be willing to un- 
dertake the service ; but how could they prevent 
your husband from carrying out his rash resolu- 
tion ? He would doubtless accompany them to 
the frontier ; but afterwards would deliver him- 
self up to Napoleon just the same.” 

Louise smiled knowingly. 

“Wait until you have heard me through,” 
she said, “and then perhaps you may change 
your mind. It was never my intention to permit 
my husband to choose for himself in the mat- 
ter. Listen. I will instruct the men to rescue 
my brother and, at the same time, kidnap my 
husband.” 

“Kidnap him?” 

“Yes, and hold him a close prisoner until I 
have seen Napoleon in person and secured his 
full pardon. I have no doubt the Emperor will 
grant it when all the circumstances of the case 
are explained to him. Does my plan meet with 
your approval, friends ?” 


190 A. SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“Louise,” cried Hector with enthusiasm, 
“you are a genius ! You have hit upon the only 
possible way of saving your husband from be- 
ing shot.” 

“And what think you, Vivette?” asked 
Louise. 

“The same as Hector.” 

“And you, Monsieur Moulinet ?” 

“That your plan is a desperate one, but may 
succeed if carried out with dispatch and cour- 
age. 

“Very well, then,” said Louise, “I will pro- 
ceed to put it into execution at once.” 

Now, although it is true that in most affairs 
a woman is the timidest of God's creatures, it 
is equally true that when her love is at stake she 
is the bravest. And so this delicate young girl, 
who had hitherto trembled at a pistol shot, did 
not hesitate to embark in an adventure which 
the most valorous captain might have declined. 

After instructing her friends to communicate 
her design to the servants, she threw her cloak 
over her shoulders, and pulling its hood close 
down over her face, started for the village of 
Vere. Meantime night had fallen, dark and 
cloudy, and she was obliged to strain her sight 
to the utmost tension to keep from straying 
from the road. She had never been abroad 
alone at night before, and her excited imagina- 
tion conjured up phantoms in every shadow. 
She fancied that she could hear the murmur of 
voices and the tramping of men in the distance. 


LOUISE TO THE RESCUE 191 

Mysterious noises were borne to her on every 
breeze from every quarter, filling her heart with 
an indefinable terror. 

Several times she was tempted to abandon 
her mission and return to the chateau ; but then 
the thought that her husband's life was at stake 
occurred to her and she pressed on. 

At last she reached the village. It consisted 
of a single street, running parallel with the 
Serre, and bordered by two rows of toppling 
houses. To her surprise she found the street 
ruddily illuminated with torches and so densely 
crowded with people that she had considerable 
difficulty in pushing her way through them. 
There were soldiers in the throng, women, chib 
dren, and old men of the village; artisans, 
tradesmen and peasants from the surrounding 
country, with here and there an officer. 

Their faces were all turned one way — toward 
the village church — and a hoarse, continuous 
roar went up from their throats, rising and fall- 
ing in a manner that struck awe to her heart. 
And high above all rang the tocsin from the 
steeple, filling her with a vague alarm. 

As she pushed on the crowd became well-nigh 
impassable, and she was obliged to wriggle her 
way along the walls of the houses to get 
through. But on arriving in front of the church 
she found an open space guarded by soldiers, 
and in the middle of it an improvised platform, 
upon which an officer was pacing to and fro. 

What did it all mean ? 


192 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

While she was pondering this question, the 
officer suddenly came to a stop, faced the crowd, 
and raising his hand to enjoin silence, cried out 
in clarion tones : 

“Frenchmen, you have been summoned hither 
to-night to rejoice over a great victory. I am 
the bearer of important tidings from the seat of 
war. On the 16th of June, Napoleon met the 
Prussian army under Blucher, at Ligny, and de- 
feated them with the loss of one-third their 
number. He is now marching on to meet the 
Duke of Wellington, and General Grouchy has 
been ordered to join him immediately with his 
division. News of another great triumph may 
be expected within a few days. Long live the 
Emperor !” 

Immediately the crowd broke forth into a 
tumultuous shout — 

“Long live the Emperor !” 

Then they shook hands, embraced one an- 
other, wept and danced for joy. 

Louise felt her heart sink within her, for she 
realized, now that the people were inflamed with 
the glory of Napoleon, it would be a difficult 
matter to enlist their sympathy in behalf of an 
uncompromising Royalist like her brother. 
However, since she had undertaken the task, 
she resolved to carry it through to the end. 

She remembered that at the farther end of the 
village street lived an old man named Truchon, 
whose influence with his neighbors was su- 
preme. This old man was under many obliga- 


LOUISE TO THE RESCUE 


193 


tions to the Count de Vere, and would doubtless 
do all in his power to aid in his escape. So 
she resolved to visit him and enlist his services 
in her undertaking. 

With this idea in view, she plunged desper- 
ately into the struggling multitude and literally 
fought her way through to the more open street 
beyond. .Then she quickened her pace to a run, 
and in a short time reached Truchon’s cottage. 
The old man was not at home, having gone to 
the church to hear the news of the victory; but 
knowing that he would soon come back, she sat 
down upon the doorstep and waited. 

At the expiration of an hour Truchon return- 
ed, and on beholding her cried out in aston- 
ishment : 

“What, my lady, abroad at such an hour and 
alone ?” 

“Yes,” she returned, pressing his hands 
warmly and gazing up into his face with a 
pleading, anxious look, “it is night and I am 
here alone, Truchon. I have come to see you 
on an affair of grave importance.” 

“What would you ask of me ?” he inquired. 

“To summon a band of brave men together 
so that I can aid my brother to escape to the 
frontier. He is in great danger. Even now I 
fear his enemies have placed him under arrest.” 

Then in rapid, eager undertones, she told him 
how her brother had incurred the enmity of 
Napoleon and how her husband had risked his 
life on his behalf. She told him further of her 


j 94 a soldier of the empire 

visit to the two men in the old mill and of her 
husband’s resolve to deliver himself up to the 
Emperor after he had helped the Count to es- 
cape to a place of safety. 

“If my husband persists in this design,” she 
concluded, “he will certainly be shot for disobe- 
dience, and that would break my heart. Won’t 
you help me to save him, Truchon?” 

“Gladly,” replied the old man with alacrity, 
“if you will tell me how.” 

“There is but one way,” said Louise, “and 
that a desperate one. We must kidnap my hus- 
band and hold him a prisoner until I can secure 
his pardon from the Emperor. Will you agree 
to this ?” 

Truchon paused to reflect. 

At last he said: “My lady, it is a perilous 
adventure you propose to me; but rather than 
see you broken-hearted, I will consent to it. Re- 
main here, and ere daybreak I will return with 
the assistance you require.” 

With that he left her and disappeared into the 
night. 

When he had gone Louise sent word to the 
chateau to have the servants, whom her friends 
had enlisted in her service, sent to her before 
morning, and then entered the cottage and lay 
down upon a sofa to rest. 

About an hour before dawn she was awaken- 
ed by Truchon. 

“My lady,” said he, “I have a band of armed 
men without awaiting your commands. Are 
you ready to start upon your errand ?” 


LOUISE TO THE RESCUE I95 

“Yes,” she replied. 

And rising from the sofa she passed out 
through the cottage door. 

On reaching the street she found a band of 
villagers gathered there, together with the 
grooms and lackeys who had arrived from the 
chateau. They were armed with muskets, 
axes, clubs, and a variety of improvised wea- 
pons, and had the appearance of a band of 
rioters. Nevertheless, there was an expression 
of grim determination upon their faces that 
reassured her. 

As she appeared among them they greeted 
her with a loud cheer. 

“My friends,” she said, smiling upon them 
encouragingly, “Truchon has doubtless told 
you that the Count de Vere is in peril of arrest, 
and that Captain De Montville, my husband, 
who is assisting him to escape, is in danger of 
being shot. We are going to their hiding 
place to escort them safely to the frontier. Can 
I depend upon your courage and fidelity?” 

They responded with a chorus of ayes. 

“Very well, then,” she continued, “follow 
me!” 

And placing herself at their head, she start- 
ed in the direction of the mill. 


CHAPTER XXII 


SAVED 

“Where are we? What has happened? Why 
has it grown dark so suddenly?” 

The voice was Count Eugene’s. 

“Be quiet!” whispered De Montville, as he 
chafed the wrists and temples of the half-con- 
scious man. “Be quiet! or our enemies may 
hear us and discover where we are.” 

The Count closed his eyes and remained si- 
lent for some time; then, as he became more 
fully restored to his senses, he sat up, looked 
around and repeated his questions. 

This time De Montville answered them. 

“We are in a hayloft,” said he, “above the 
stable adjoining the mill. You may remember 
that we had escaped to the roof with the in- 
tention of leaping off into the pool below the 
dam and swimming to the shore. Well, on 
reaching the roof we saw that we could make 
the jump better from the top of the stable 


SAVED 


I 97 


back of the mill building. So we made our 
way thither and fell through a trap door into 
this place. 

“In falling,” continued De Montville, “the 
shock rendered you unconscious, but me it only 
jarred and surprised. Looking up to learn the 
cause of the accident, I saw the trap door 
hanging down on its hinges. I sprang forward, 
closed it, drove the bolts home, and then per- 
ceived that it fitted into the roof so closely that 
not a crevice showed the faintest glimmer of 
light. 

“Just then I heard cries of amazement and 
the tramping of feet overhead, and I knew that 
our pursuers were upon the roof. They were 
evidently dumfounded at our strange disap- 
pearance. At first I feared they would dis- 
cover the trap door and come after us; but 
when they passed over it time and again with- 
out stopping, I knew that it could be seen no 
better from above than below, and that we 
were for the present safe.” 

“It is wonderful !” exclaimed the Count 
when he had finished. “It is apparent that 
God has not abandoned us after all.” 

A period of silence followed, then the Count 
inquired anxiously: 

“What shall we do now ?” 

“Wait,” answered De Montville. 

“For how long?” 

“Until darkness falls again. It would be 
perilous to venture from our hiding place 
while it is light.” 


1 98 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

“But in the meantime Durant may discover 
our refuge.” 

“We must take that chance.” 

So they composed themselves as comfort- 
ably as possible upon the hay and began wait- 
ing for the day to pass by. 

A half hour had elapsed when their attention 
was attracted by the sound of voices and the 
shuffling of feet below them. 

“Do you hear that?” whispered the Count 
in alarm. 

“Yes,” said De Montville. 

“What can it be?” 

“Lie still whilst I reconnoitre.” 

With these words De Montville left his place 
on the hay and stole silently to the ladder lead- 
ing down to the hostlers’ quarters and the sta- 
ble on the two floors below. On reaching it 
he bent over the opening and listened. 

Presently he heard a voice call out: 

“Follow me, my men! It’s likely we’ll find 
them hiding in the hay loft.” 

This was followed by the tramping of many 
feet and the clashing of steel against steel. 

De Montville returned quickly to the Count’s 
side. 

“What is it?” inquired the latter as he drew 
near. 

“Durant,” whispered De Montville. “I rec- 
ognized his voice. He is coming up the stairs.” 

“To attack us?” 

“Yes.” 


SAVED 


199 


For a moment the two men stood face to 
face in the dim light, regarding each other 
with looks of consternation. 

Then De Montville spoke again. 

“We must return to the roof and take our 
chance at a leap into the pool,” he said. “If 
we remain here we are lost.” 

“But they will follow us,” groaned the 
Count, “and we will be captured in any case. 
So why not make our last stand here ?” 

“No,” returned De Montville, “they will 
not follow us, for we will close the trap door 
after us and I'll warrant they’ll never find it.” 

“Very well, then,” said the Count, “let us to 
the roof at once !” 

De Montville led the way to the trap door, 
mounted the pile of hay that lay beneath it and 
put his hands to the bolts. He withdrew them 
from their sockets and let the door fall down 
upon its hinges. 

Then he thrust his head out through the 
opening. 

The next instant he withdrew it with a face 
as pale as death, and cried out despairingly : 

“Our last hope has fled! Durant’s men are 
mounting guard upon the roof !” 

They had barely time to take their stand in 
a corner when their enemies came pouring into 
the loft. Durant led the way, flourishing his 
sword as he advanced. On reaching the mid- 
dle of the attic he paused and began peering 
into the darkness around. 


200 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“Crouch down, Eugene!” whispered De 
Montville. “If they do not see us we may es- 
cape them yet.” 

And clutching the Count’s arm he pulled 
him down behind a pile of loose hay. 

There ensued a period of harrowing silence. 
It told terribly upon their nerves. 

Would the Major prosecute his search more 
closely? Or would he retire, satisfied with a 
cursory examination of the premises? 

Suddenly Durant cried out in tones of tri- 
umph : 

“Look at that trap in the roof! It is open. 
The rascals must be hiding somewhere in this 
hay. Scatter, men, and ferret them out!” 

Following close upon his words three men 
with drawn swords and pistols came rushing 
toward their hiding place. 

There was no alternative now but to kill or 
be killed. So they sprang to their feet, deter- 
mined to sell their lives as dearly as possible. 
At the same moment the three men bore them 
back against the wall. 

To see De Montville fighting in the defense 
of the Count one might have supposed he was 
protecting a dearly loved brother. Nor was 
the Count backward in the combat. Drawing 
his sword he thrust and parried, parried and 
thrust with a dexterity marvelous to behold. 

Within the compass of a minute they gave 
and received a dozen blows for each other. 


SAVED 


201 


Then the Count’s foot slipped and he fell 
sprawling upon the floor. 

Standing astride his prostrate form De 
Montville engaged the three assailants single- 
handed, and held them at bay until a blow 
from the butt of a pistol laid him low. Yet, 
even in this extremity, he did not abandon the 
contest. 

Throwing himself upon the Count’s pros- 
trate form, he endeavored to ward off the dag- 
ger thrusts of the soldiers, who, infuriated by 
the wounds they had received, now fell upon 
their knees to deal a death blow to the man they 
had been ordered to arrest. 

Suddenly a woman’s voice called out above 
the clamor : 

“Stay your hands, ruffians! Would you 
murder an innocent man?” 

There was an authority in those vibrant 
tones that was not to be defied. 

The soldiers slowly arose to their feet and 
drew away from their intended victims. Then 
De Montville saw that his preserver was his 
wife, Louise. She had just entered the hay 
loft through the open trap in the roof, with a 
troop of armed civilians tumbling after her. 

While the fugitives were gazing at her in 
amazement, Durant approached her, crying: 

“Who dares to interfere with my com- 
mands ?” 

Louise turned upon him haughtily — 


202 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“I, Louise de Montville,” she answered in 
tones of defiance. 

He broke out into a scornful laugh. 

“A fig for such interference !” he cried. 
“Are you a queen that you come here to com- 
mand me?” 

The girl regarded him with a look of su- 
preme disdain. 

“Yes, monsieur,” she said loftily, “I am a 
queen — a queen of these men’s hearts.” And 
she pointed to the armed civilians who by this 
time filled the loft. “They have come here,” 
she added boldly, “to fight you to the death if 
necessary; but I trust you will withdraw at 
once and avoid bloodshed. I believe you have 
fifty men in your command; in my company 
there are twice that number ; so I advise you to 
leave these gentlemen in my keeping and go 
your way in peace.” 

Durant turned white with rage, and com- 
manded his soldiers to clear the loft ; but at this 
they shook their heads and hesitated, while a 
sergeant spoke up bravely : 

“We are not assassins, Major Durant, to 
murder honest Frenchmen, nor are we cravens 
to wage war against a woman. Lead us against 
the enemies of France and we will gladly fol- 
low you to death ; but we refuse to turn our 
weapons against our fellow-countrymen.” 

Durant realized that he was baffled, and al- 
though fuming inwardly, was wise enough to 
preserve a calm exterior. 


SAVED 


2O3 


“O, if you refuse to obey me,” he said, “I 
must needs postpone arresting these gentlemen 
until another time.” 

Then he called upon his men to follow him, 
and led them out of the loft. 

Scarcely had they disappeared before Louise 
was in her husband’s arms, sobbing : 

“Oh, my love, thank God that I arrived in 
time to save you !” 

Within an hour Truchon and six men, 
mounted on stout horses, started for the fron- 
tier, escorting the Count de Vere to a place of 
safety, and with De Montville as their pris- 
oner. 


CHAPTER XXIII 


TIDINGS FROM WATERLOO 
Three days passed by. 

On the afternoon of the third day Madame 
Girard was sitting in the library of the chateau 
reading a copy of the Monitenr, when a serv- 
ant entered, announcing that M. Moulinet had 
called to speak with her alone. 

“I wonder what he wants,” she mused with 
fluttering heart; then turning to the servant, 
“You may conduct him hither,” she said. 

She then laid down her journal and pre- 
pared to receive her visitor with becoming dig- 
nity. When the notary entered the room she 
greeted him with a stiff curtsy — 

“Well, monsieur,” she said, “I understand 
you wish to see me in private?” 

“Yes,” he replied, crossing the room and 
taking a seat opposite her, “on a matter that 
concerns two loving hearts.” 


TIDINGS FROM WATERLOO 


205 


“Two loving hearts, monsieur ?” she cried. 

“Yes, your daughter’s and my nephew’s. 
Hector informs me that you refused him Vi- 
vette’s hand.” 

“I did.” 

“And that because he was not able to pro- 
vide for a wife.” 

“Precisely.” 

M. Moulinet drew himself up proudly. 

“Madame,” said he, “I have come here to 
tell you that my nephew is worth over three 
million francs in his own right.” 

“What!” cried Madame Girard in amaze- 
ment. “Over three million? Bless me! Where 
did the boy obtain such a vast fortune? I 
never heard of it. Are you quite sure ?” 

“Madame,” he responded loftily, “you have 
my word for it. And now that your chief ob- 
jection to my nephew is swept away, I have 
three proposals to make to you.” 

“Three proposals ?” 

“Yes,” he continued earnestly. “Hector has 
never known the tender care of a mother or 
the sweet companionship of woman. I would 
not have his life spoiled as mine has been — to 
know only the bitterness of hope deferred until 
the springs of youth dry up and leave him 
naught but dear delusions to hug to his aching 
breast — and so I propose, first, that you pro- 
vide him with a wife. If this meets with your 
approval, I propose, in the second place, that 
you provide him with — a mother.” 


20 6 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“Bless me!” gasped Madame Girard in as- 
tonishment. “How could I become his mo- 
ther?” 

“How, madame — how?” cried M. Moulinet 
eagerly. “Why, don’t you know that Hector 
has been the same to me as a son? Now, as I 
have been a father to him, don’t you think you 
could become a — ” 

“Sir,” she interposed frigidly, “what is your 
third proposition?” 

“That you provide him with both,” said the 
old gentleman; and he added with an arch 
smile, “I imagine that Cupid is still lingering 
in this vicinity, madame.” 

She pretended not to understand him. 

“Monsieur,” she said, “pray make your 
propositions plainer; I believe in being practi- 
cal in all things.” 

“Exactly; but don’t you think a little senti- 
ment, in a matter of this kind, admissible?” 

At this she laughed provokingly. 

“Sentiment?” she cried. “Why, monsieur, 
you surprise me! You, who have known only 
the bitterness of hope deferred, whose springs 
of youth are all dried up, who have hugged to 
your breast nothing more formidable than dear 
delusions — to talk of sentiment. Why, what 
can the world be coming to?” 

“But, madame,” he protested eagerly, “be- 
lieve me, if I have not been sentimental in the 
past, it has not been for the want of inclina- 
tion; try me.” 


TIDINGS FROM WATERLOO 


207 


And he made as though he would embrace 
her; but she repulsed. him laughingly, crying: 

“Indeed, sir, Fll do nothing of the kind — 
that is, until you have obtained the right.” 

“I understand,” he said, “the marriage rite. 
And may I hope, madame ? Say yes !” 

“Well, for Hector’s sake, I will,” she an- 
swered, and held up her hand for him to kiss. 

While he was in the act of pressing it to his 
lips Vivette and Hector burst into the room 
from an adjoining chamber. 

“I told you, Uncle Moulinet,” cried the girl, 
“that mamma could not hold out forever.” 

Then she approached her mother and flour- 
ished a sealed document before her eyes, cry- 
ing: 

“Look, mother, look! A deed to all of the 
Moulinet estates. They are to be Hector’s the 
very moment he takes me for his wife.” 

And opening the document, she gave it to 
her mother to read. 

Madame Girard examined the paper care- 
fully, and frowned. 

“Monsieur Moulinet,” she asked sternly, 
“did you do this ?” 

“Why-er-yes,” was the stammering reply. 

“Well, you have beggared yourself to enrich 
your nephew. How, monsieur, do you expect 
to support me?” 

“I never thought of that,” said M. Moulinet 
in confusion. 


208 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“So it appears, sir!” rejoined Madame Gi- 
rard haughtily. “You give away your fortune 
and then propose that I shall take you for a 
husband and provide for all your wants. How 
considerate ! How thoughtful !” 

And the old lady arose and left the room in 
high dudgeon. 

M. Moulinet turned despairingly to his 
nephew. 

“Hector, my boy,” said he, “what am I to 
do? I have at last caught the bird, only to 
realize that I have given away the cage.” 

Seeing his distress, Vivette interposed, say- 
ing: 

“My dearly beloved father that is to be, 
since Hector has made his home with you so 
many years, you must now make your home 
with him. And as regards mamma, I shall be 
delighted to entertain her at the Chateau Moul- 
inet for an indefinite period.” 

And with that she hurried from the room to 
extend the invitation to her mother. 

At the expiration of ten minutes she return- 
ed, radiant with happiness, and approaching 
M. Moulinet, cried out excitedly: 

“She consents, she consents !” 

“Who consents?” asked the notary in be- 
wilderment. 

“My mother.” 

“To what?” 

“To marry you, and live with Hector and 
me,” replied Vivette. “I offered to restore 


TIDINGS FROM WATERLOO 209 

your fortune, Uncle Moulinet; but she would 
not hear of it. Then I insisted upon your tak- 
ing two-thirds of the income as long as you 
lived. She approved of the idea, but per- 
suaded me that half would be more equitable. 
She sent me to tell you to draw up the marriage 
contract whenever you liked.” 

M. Moulinet was beside himself with joy. 

“Hector, my boy, congratulate me!” he ex- 
claimed, and embraced his nephew with extra- 
ordinary fervor. 

At this juncture Louise entered, tremulous 
with excitement and carrying a letter in her 
hand. 

“My friends,” she said, “the post has just 
arrived with this letter. It is from Eugene. 
Would you like to hear it read?” 

At this they all crowded round her eagerly, 
crying : 

“Read it! Read it!” 

Thus encouraged she broke open the seal, 
unfolded the missive and read the following: 

“My Dear Sister — 

“When you receive this you will know I am 
in a place of safety. Thanks to the assistance 
of the gallant Truchon, we succeeded in cross- 
ing the frontier. Your husband accompanied 
us across the border, but would go no further. 
No entreaties of mine could alter his determi- 
nation to deliver himself up to Napoleon to be 
shot. So Truchon made him a prisoner. How- 


210 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


ever, he succeeded in making his escape, and is 
now on his way to the army to surrender him- 
self into the hands of the Emperor. May God 
help him and you, my poor sister ! 

“Your affectionate brother, 

“Eugene." 

The last words died upon her lips in a moan. 
Seeing her totter, Hector sprang forward and 
caught her in his arms just as consciousness 
left her. 

When she came out of her swoon she was 
lying upon a sofa, with Vivette upon her knees 
beside her, holding a bottle of smelling salts to 
her nostrils. 

“How long have I been unconscious?" she 
asked feebly. 

“Over an hour, dear," replied Vivette. 
“Here, drink this cordial !" 

And she pressed a glass containing benedic- 
tine to Louise’s lips. 

The cordial started the blood coursing 
through her veins and revived her greatly. In 
a short time she had recovered sufficient 
strength to sit up, and glancing around, beheld 
her brother standing among her friends, re- 
garding her with a look of intense anxiety. 

“Eugene !" she cried out in amazement. 
“Why have you returned ?" 

“Wait until you are stronger," he replied, 
“and I will tell you everything." 


TIDINGS FROM WATERLOO 


21 1 


“No, you must tell me now/’ she insisted. 
“I am quite myself again and am prepared to 
hear the worst.” 

Seeing that she was not to be put off, the 
Count sat down upon the sofa by her side, and 
taking her hand in his, said impressively: 

“Louise, there has been a terrible battle be- 
tween Napoleon and the Allies.” 

“And the Emperor?” 

“Was defeated.” 

“Where was this battle fought?” she in- 
quired eagerly. 

“At Waterloo.” 

“When?” 

“Three days ago.” 

“Do you know any of the particulars of the 
battle?” 

“There is very little we can learn. It is 
rumored that Napoleon was seen yesterday 
crossing the San Quentin bridge alone. Ac- 
cording to another report, he has rallied his 
scattered forces and is in a position to turn de- 
feat into a victory.” 

At this M. Moulinet shook his head solemn- 
ly and said : 

“In that case, Count, I fear you have been 
hasty in returning.” 

“Why?” asked the Count. 

“Because Major Durant is still in this neigh- 
borhood, and should he learn of your presence 
here would certainly place you under arrest.” 


212 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“So I still have Major Durant to deal with,” 
said the Count laughing. “The last I saw of 
him was when he was beating an ignominious 
retreat from the mill stable.” 

“Which is all the worse for you,” added the 
notary very gravely. “ He is vindictive to a 
degree.” 

These words filled the heart of Louise with 
alarm. 

“Oh, Eugene !” she cried ; “why did you re- 
turn at such a time?” 

“Louise,” answered the Count, “I would not 
cause you a moment’s pain for the world; but 
when I heard of Wellington’s victory at Wa- 
terloo I thought the homeward way a safe 
one.” 

“Yes, if we were only sure the news is true,” 
returned his sister. 

At this M. Moulinet started for the door, 
saying : 

“There must be some fresh news from the 
army. I will go down to the village and in- 
quire.” 

He was about to leave the room when he en- 
countered Hortense de Graysant upon the 
threshold. 

“So you are going to Vere for the latest 
news?” she remarked with a sarcastic smile. 
“Spare yourself the journey, monsieur, for I 
have just come from the village. The latest 
bulletin announces an overwhelming victory 
for Napoleon.” Then flourishing her right 


TIDINGS FROM WATERLOO 213 

hand aloft, she cried: “Long live the Em- 
peror !” 

Not a soul in the room responded. 

“What, will no one join me?” she asked, 
frowning darkly upon those around; then, 
with a threatening gesture, she added : 

“Come, this is treason !” 


CHAPTER XXIV 

BACK FROM THE DEAD 

When Hortense first appeared in the door- 
way the Count de Vere, at a signal from Lou- 
ise, slipped unperceived into an adjoining 
chamber ; but unfortunately he left his hat and 
gloves in the library. They lay conspicuously 
upon a table where he had placed them on his 
entrance, mute witnesses of his presence in the 
house. 

Hortense perceived them, shrugged her 
shoulders significantly and smiled. Then she 
turned to Louise and said maliciously : 

“I am glad to see you have concluded not to 
die of a broken heart, madame. You are not 
as quixotic as your husband. How very ridic- 
ulous of him to deliver himself into the Em- 
peror's hands! Major Durant has just re- 
ceived word of his fate." 

At this Louise bent forward eagerly, with a 
face as white as death. 


BACK FROM THE DEAD 


215 


‘Tell me,” she gasped; “he still lives?” 

“On the contrary,” returned Hortense with 
an evil sneer, “he is no more. It appears that 
he reached the Emperor's camjp at Waterloo 
on the eve of the great battle, acknowledged 
his disobedience to Napoleon and was imme- 
diately court-martialed and shot.” 

Louise sank back upon the sofa with a low 
moan. It is probable that she would have 
abandoned herself completely to despair if the 
entrance of another personage into the room 
had not recalled her to a sense of the danger 
that threatened her brother. This person was 
Major Durant, who strode through the door 
while Hortense was still speaking, and looked 
around him with an air of insolence. 

On beholding him Hortense smiled tri- 
umphantly. “Ah, Major,” she said, “you have 
arrived most opportunely. I think I know 
what brings you here and will well gladly aid 
you in your mission.” 

Then, pointing to the hat and gloves upon 
the table, she added, with a look full of mean^ 
ing, “A man’s hat and gloves still wet with 
perspiration — what do they tell you, Major?” 

“That the Count de Vere is in this house.” 

“Exactly.” 

Durant broke out into a brutal laugh. 

“Ah, this is too good !” he cried. Then ad- 
dressing himself to Louise, “Madame, where 
is the Count de Vere?” he asked mockingly. 


21 6 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


Realizing that everything now depended 
upon her courage, Louise flashed upon him a 
look of supreme defiance and answered : 

“Why am I subjected to such a question? 
Leave my presence, sir! Don’t you see that I 
am ill — heart-broken ?” 

“I am simply doing my duty,” said Durant, 
“so answer me; have you seen your brother 
here — to-night ?” 

“Monsieur,” she replied haughtily, “I re- 
fuse.” 

Durant shrugged his shoulders. 

“It is useless to endeavor to conceal him,” 
he said, “for he cannot possibly escape me. 
My soldiers surround the house.” 

“Why do you persecute me thus ?” she cried. 
“Why do you pursue me like a relentless 
demon? What have I ever done to you? Or 
to you, Madame de Graysant?” 

And she burst into a flood of tears. 

At sight of her grief the hard heart of Du- 
rant was touched. 

“Madame,’ he said in gentle tones, “I would 
be your friend if you would only permit me. 
I will save your brother on one condition.” 

“You need not state it, Major,” cried a voice 
from the adjoining room; and the next mo- 
ment the Count de Vere strode majestically into 
the library. 

“I know the condition you would impose,” 
he continued ; “but I would rather die in prison 
than see my sister linked with one as contempt- 
ible as yourself!” 


BACK FROM THE DEAD 217 

And folding his arms he fixed upon Durant 
a look of ineffable scorn. 

The Major winced under that eagle glance, 
but it was only for a moment. The next in- 
stant he recovered his self-possession and cried 
out in thundering tones : 

“Then so be it ! Die in a dungeon you shall !” 
While speaking he drew a paper from his 
pocket and flourished it in the Count’s face. 
“I have here an order from Napoleon,” he said, 
“to place you under arrest. Monsieur, you are 
my prisoner.” 

“Silence !” cried the Count, seeing that Lou- 
ise was on the point of fainting. “If you have 
one atom of humanity left in your heart, re- 
member you are in the presence of ladies.” 

At this Durant snapped his fingers con- 
temptuously and rejoined : 

“You should know, monsieur, that the law 
does not recognize the tender feelings of the 
fair sex.” Then he turned toward the door 
and shouted, “Lieutenant, bring in your men !” 

At this command an officer and four soldiers, 
who had been waiting in the hall outside, came 
tramping into the room, and stood, arms at 
rest, awaiting the further orders of their chief. 

The Count approached his sister. 

“Louise,” he said sorrowfully, “the time has 
come at last to say farewell.” 

She flung her arms around his neck and 
sobbed hysterically: 

“Oh, no, no, no! I cannot part from you, 
Eugene. Indeed I cannot.” 


2l8 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


He disengaged himself from her embrace, 
and placed her tenderly upon the sofa. Then 
turning to Durant: 

“Monsieur, I am at your service,” he said 
with dignity. 

“Fall in!” shouted Durant to his men. 

The soldiers formed a square about their 
prisoner and stood waiting for the command to 
march. But before giving it Durant deter- 
mined to make one more effort to compel Lou- 
ise to accept his condition. 

“Madame,” he said, “one word from you 
and your brother is released. Will you speak 
it?” 

“I cannot! I cannot!” she moaned. “Oh, 
be merciful !” 

“And why can you not?” he asked. “You 
are free. Your husband is dead. You will 
soon forget him, and in time your love will all 
be mine. Do you understand, madame? Your 
husband is dead. Your husband — ” 

“Lives !” 

This monosyllable had the effect of a thun- 
derbolt. 

Every heart in the room stopped beating, 
and all eyes were turned toward the door. 

Was it an apparition that appeared upon the 
threshold? Or had the dead come back to 
life? 

Guilbert de Montville stood in the door- 
way, the light from a window opposite falling 


BACK FROM THE DEAD 219 

full upon his figure, the dark hall as a back- 
ground. 

“What miracle is this?” gasped M. Mouli- 
net. 

“What fiend’s trick?” muttered Durant. 

“Can it be possible he has escaped ?” queried 
Hortense. 

De Montville advanced into the room. 

“Escaped?” he said. “Yes, and thanks to 
Providence, I have returned in time to prevent 
this outrage.” 

“And so the Emperor has pardoned you?” 
inquired Hortense. 

“The Emperor? No, Madame de Graysant, 
France has no longer an Emperor!” 

“What do you mean?” they all asked. 

“That Napoleon was overwhelmingly de- 
feated at Waterloo,” he answered gravely. “I 
arrived there in time to participate in the bat- 
tle, and know whereof I speak. The French 
army has been vanquished and almost utterly 
destroyed. 

“Even nightfall did not interrupt the car- 
nage,” he continued. “While the English 
army, worn out with fatigue, betook them- 
selves to rest, the Prussian cavalry pursued re- 
lentlessly the flying French troops. At Ligny 
the Imperial Guard had cried ‘No quarter!’ 
and now the same cry came back upon them 
like the penalty of retaliation. Cannons, mili- 
tary wagons, baggage, obstacles of all sorts 
made their escape difficult. The confusion, dis- 


220 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


order, and terror were indescribable. History 
offers few examples of such an overwhelming 
disaster.” 

“And the Emperor?” inquired Durant. 

“At Charleroi Napoleon left his brother, 
Jerome, whose conduct at Waterloo had been 
heroic, in command of the remnants of the 
army, and posted to Paris, where he will un- 
doubtedly be forced to abdicate.” 

Durant broke into a triumphant laugh. 

“So it appears he is Emperor still,” he said. 
“Then my authority to arrest the Count de 
Vere is valid.” And pointing to the door he 
cried out to his soldiers, “March!” 

“Hold!” exclaimed De Montville with a cu- 
rious smile. “You have not heard me through. 
Major. It is true that Napoleon is still our 
sovereign, and therefore his order for my pro- 
motion holds good.” 

“Your promotion?” 

“Precisely, Major. Let me explain. Dur- 
ing the retreat from Waterloo I accompanied 
the Emperor for many leagues and gave him 
marked proofs of my fidelity. For this he was 
very grateful and forgave me my one act of 
disobedience. Moreover, when I requested 
him, as an evidence of his forgiveness, to make 
me commandant of the forces at Vere, he con- 
sented.” 

“What proofs can you offer me of this?” 
sneered Durant. 

De Montville drew from his pocket two doc- 
uments. 


BACK FROM THE DEAD 


221 


“This,” said he, opening one of them, “is 
my commission, signed by the Emperor. It 
is your official decapitation, Major. You will 
see that I have superseded you as the com- 
mandant here. And this,” he added, forcing 
the other paper into the Major’s hand, “is a 
warrant for your arrest on the charge of mis- 
using your office to further schemes of private 
revenge. I’ll trouble you for your sword, mon- 
sieur !” 

Durant looked at the warrant and turned 
pale, for he recognized at a glance that it was 
genuine. 

“Your sword!” repeated De Montville 
sternly. 

Realizing the futility of a refusal, Durant 
reluctantly surrendered it into his keeping. 

De Montville now turned to the soldiers. 

“You will release the Count de Vere,” he 
commanded, “and take this scoundrel into cus- 
tody. Fall in! Forward, march!” 

At the word the soldiers formed around 
their fallen commander and tramped off with 
him to the village jail. 

“And now, madame,” continued De Mont- 
ville, addressing Hortense de Graysant, “it is 
the Emperor’s wish that you should leave 
France forever.” Then handing her a purse, 
“Here are a hundred louis d’or,” he added, “to 
pay the expenses of your journey to America. 
Perhaps you will find in that distant country 
a good field for the exercise of your great tal- 
ents.” 


222 


A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 


“And what if I refuse to go?” she asked. 

“Then I will be forced to throw you into 
prison.” 

She dropped him a mocking curtsy. 

“I salute you, Commandant de Montville,” 
she said, “and accept your generous offer. You 
have won the game and, as an honest player, I 
must needs pay the forfeit !” 

With that she broke into a jeering laugh 
and flaunted out defiantly through the door. 

When she had departed, De Montville turn- 
ed to Louise and, holding out his arms, mur- 
mured tenderly: 

“No more separation, no more doubts, no 
more misery; but a lifetime of happiness and 
love together, wife !” 

“Husband!” she cried in an ecstasy, and 
rushed into his arms. 

Michelet, the most picturesque of historians, 
has said in one of his lectures : 

“Gentlemen, the greatest man of the world 
was a man. Now he had a wife, and one day 
he wanted to change her for another. Great 
anguish, tears, lamentations! He said, ‘It is 
only a woman!’ You were not living during 
the Empire, gentlemen, but I was.' I was a 
child then. I tell you it was a time when no- 
body talked. The Emperor had done every- 
thing, you know. He had changed Europe 
and suppressed nations, and thrown the Repub- 


BACK FROM THE DEAD 223 

lie out of the window. Nobody said a word; 
profound silence. 

“One morning he wanted to send away his 
wife; all the world talked. Discussions began 
in every family. I heard this dispute between 
a man and his wife. The man said : ‘She has 
given him no children. She has committed 
more than one fault. He might have divorced 
her when he came back from Egypt/ ‘But he 
didn't/ said the woman. ‘Why not now, then ? 
The Emperor is all powerful. Ought he not 
to surround himself with powerful families? 
His isolation is also that of France.' To which 
the woman, without arguing, simply answered, 
‘No matter, it won't bring him good luck.' 
‘And why not?' ‘It won't bring him good 
luck / " 

On that Sunday of June 25th, 1815, when 
the vanquished of Waterloo found himself once 
more at Malmaison, that poetic residence, all 
filled with souvenirs of Josephine, in the depths 
of his soul he compared his second wife to his 
first one, and recognized — too late, alas ! — how 
fatal to him the divorce had been. 

Evidently feminine sentiment and popular 
instinct were not at fault. 

It had not brought him good luck . 

On the evening of June 29th Napoleon bade 
farewell to his mother, his brothers, and his 
faithful servants, left the chateau, and passed 
through the winding alleys of the garden to 
the court, where his traveling carriage was 


224 A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE 

awaiting him. He gave a last glance at the 
trees which had sheltered beneath their foliage 
so many joys and so much glory. Then, en- 
tering the carriage, he began the flight that 
was to end at St. Helena. 

.This time, however, De Montville did not 
accompany him into exile. 

On the restoration of Louis XVIII, he re- 
signed from the army and retired with his 
beautiful young bride to his ancestral domains 
in Dauphiny. There they lived happily for 
many years, educating the children that God 
sent to bless their home, improving their es- 
tates and occasionally paying a long visit to 
the Count de Vere, in his chateau on the Serre, 
or in his hotel at Paris, where — having been 
promoted to a high court position as a reward 
for his gallant conduct at Grenoble — he passed 
most of his time. 

And now a few words regarding the minor 
characters in this drama. 

In due course of time there occurred a dou- 
ble wedding in the little church at Vere, one of 
the contracting couples being M. Moulinet and 
Madame Girard, the other Hector and Vivette. 
The younger couple established themselves in 
the old notary’s house and insisted that M. and 
Mme. Moulinet should consider it their home 
for life. 

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of Waterloo 
there appeared in a New York newspaper a 
graphic account of that great battle, purporting 


BACK FROM THE DEAD 225 

to have been compiled from an interview with 
a former Major of Chasseurs, who had served 
as an aide-de-camp to Napoleon on that disas- 
trous day. 

According to the newspaper the name of this 
officer was Durant, and he was living, in re- 
duced circumstances, in a garret on Bleecker 
street, with his wife, an accomplished French- 
woman, who had formerly been the wife of the 
famous Prince de Graysant. 

By which it will be seen that poverty and 
unhappiness are the end of evil ways. 




















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